Celebrating 23 Years of Hearing Awareness Essential Tips for Protecting Your Hearing
For 23 years, 20dB Hearing has been committed to improve awareness about the significance of hearing health and its impact on daily life. As we celebrate this milestone, it’s important to emphasize that protecting your hearing is more vital than ever. In this article, we’ll share key tips for protecting your hearing, so you can enjoy the sounds of life for many years ahead.
Limiting Exposure to Loud Noises
One of the most effective ways to protect your hearing is by minimizing exposure to loud sounds. Health experts warn that sounds at 85 decibels or higher can lead to permanent hearing damage. Whether you're at concerts, working in noisy environments, or using power tools, it's crucial to protect your ears from harmful noise. Wearing ear protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, can significantly reduce your exposure to loud sounds. Furthermore, it is essential to take breaks from loud environments, as prolonged exposure can cause cumulative harm. By limiting time in loud environments, you can protect your ears from the hazardous noise thus reduce the risk of hearing loss.
Practice Safe Listening Habits
Many people, especially teenagers and young adults, use listening devices like headphones, earbuds, and earphones daily. However, playing music or streaming audio at high volumes through these devices can harm your hearing permanently. Experts suggest following the 60/60 rule: keep the volume to no more than 60% of the maximum volume and limit listening to 60 minutes at a time. Noise-cancelling headphones can be beneficial as they help to reduce background noise, allowing for clearer sound at lower volumes. Being mindful of your listening habits is crucial to avoid hearing fatigue and long-term damage.
Regular Check & Proper Ear Care
In most body medical check-up, hearing test usually is not included in the package, thus making people not aware of their current hearing status. Many people don’t notice gradual hearing loss until it becomes quite severe. Annual hearing check-up help to monitor your hearing regularly thus helping to detect any changes early that will allow for earlier intervention. Additionally, practicing proper ear care is also important. Using cotton buds, metal ear pick or inserting any foreign object is not recommended as this action may cause further impacted earwax or injury in the ear. It is highly advised to seek medical professionals help if you feel the need of cleaning your ears or if you experience any ear discomfort or pain as well.
Protecting Your Hearing for the Future
As we commemorate our 23 years of promoting hearing awareness to Malaysians, it is indeed very important to take care of our hearing health. By following best practices of hearing health like, minimizing your noise exposure, using hearing protection device, getting regular hearing check annually and taking care of your ear hygiene, will lead to better hearing. With better hearing, it can have a great impact on social, emotional and your overall quality of life.
Nurina, Clinical Audiologist at 20dB Hearing Pavilion Bukit Jalil
