As we move out of the cold winter months, it's time to take care of those things that you've been putting off. Your health may be one of those things you've been putting off. Did you know that May is Better Hearing Month? It's a great time to remember to protect your ears from loud noises. Also, if you have hearing loss, be sure to get help from a hearing care professional.

Protecting Your Precious Hearing

Many people put off doing the small things to protect their hearing until they've already lost some of it. You should be proactive about protecting your precious hearing. Be sure to follow the tips that we're going to go over below.

Keep Sounds Turned Down

When you use noise-producing devices like an MP3 player or radio, it can be tempting to turn the volume up. But, many of these devices allow volume levels above what's safe for your hearing. A good rule of thumb is to never turn your radio or MP3 player up to more than 50% of what its loudest volume is. This will help to reduce your risk of experiencing hearing loss.

Wear Hearing Protection

A great hearing care practice is to remember to wear hearing protection. Be sure to do this whenever you're going to be around loud noises or constant noises for a long period of time. This includes things like mowing your lawn, weed whacking, or attending a concert. There are many different types of hearing protection devices out there. Some are better than others, and we're sure that you can find one that fits your needs and your budget. Some of the most popular include ear muffs, noise-canceling headphones, and earplugs.

Limit Your Exposure

Sometimes you may not be able to avoid loud noises altogether. One great strategy in this situation is to limit your exposure to that loud noise. For example, if you're at a concert or sporting event, take breaks by walking to the bathroom or a food stand. This will give your ears time to recover from the constant loud noise.

Why is Protecting Your Ears Important?

Better Hearing Month helps to remind you of the reasons why you should protect your ears. Hearing is a very fragile component of the human body. Loud noises or long-term exposure to noise can damage a person's hearing. Plus, some of the other symptoms of hearing loss, like tinnitus, are difficult to deal with on a mental level.

Signs That It's Time to Speak With a Hearing Care Professional

As we enter into Better Hearing Month, it should remind you to pay more attention to your hearing. If you've noticed any of the problems below, it's time to speak with one of our hearing care professionals.

• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• You’re often turning up the volume
• You have excessive earwax
• You’re withdrawing from social situations

Call Us Today

Hearing loss is not one of those things that you want to continue to put off getting help for. Better Hearing Month should motivate you to contact our office today. Our hearing care professionals are happy to assist with all your hearing loss issues. We will make sure to provide you with many viable treatment options.