How To Reduce the Risk of Hearing Loss in Your Thirties

We often take for granted how our senses impact interactions with the world around us. Our sight allows us to take in the picturesque views. Our sense of smell allows us to enjoy the aromas of different cuisine. Our hearing allows us to listen and engage with our loved ones.

But as we age, we may experience impaired eyesight or hearing loss that impairs our senses. While some forms of hearing loss are genetic and can’t be prevented, individuals can reduce their chances of experiencing noise-induced hearing loss.

To help you maintain your hearing and prevent hearing loss in your thirties, El Dorado Hearing has put together a list of quick tips that will help you continue hearing the world around you.

Avoid Exposure to Loud Noise

This likely won’t come as a shock to you, but repeated exposure to loud noises can damage your hearing. If you’re regularly attending loud concerts or events or work in an industry like construction where you’re around loud tools, you’re more likely to experience hearing loud.

The extreme sound levels damage the hairs in your inner ear that help your ear to process the noise into audible sound.

Lower the Music

If you are a big fan of the latest top hits or always craving the newest true-crime podcast, you probably walk around with headphones in your ears. Noise-induced hearing loss is commonly brought on from listening to music or the television too loudly!

Try lowering your headphones or TV speakers a couple of notches lower than you usually do to even lower your chances of hearing damage.

Wear Hearing Protection

Sometimes exposure to loud noises can’t be avoided — and as long as you take proactive measures to protect your hearing, that’s perfectly alright! Pack hearing protection such as earplugs when you know you’re going to be around loud noises for an extended period.

Earplugs are small and easy to keep tucked away in your jacket pocket or purse and can be worn at concerts, sporting events, fireworks, and other loud activities. You’ll still be able to hear what’s going on around you. The sound will just be diminished to help prevent hearing loss.

Quit Smoking

Smoking can lead to many health problems, especially as we grow older. While smoking is known for causing various forms of cancer, it can also lead to hearing loss due to restricting the necessary blood flow through areas in the body like the ears.

If you smoke regularly (or even occasionally), it may be time to kick the habit in your thirties to help keep your hearing in the best shape possible.

Remove Earwax

If you have a buildup of earwax in your ear, it may be making it difficult for sounds to travel through your ear canal! While most people assume a cotton swab is the best way to clean their ears, a cotton swab may push the earwax deeper into the ear and cause more damage.

If you suspect you have excess earwax that is causing you to have reduced hearing abilities, schedule an appointment for a professional ear cleaning.

Have Your Hearing Tested by a Professional

As you get older, it’s recommended that you get your hearing tested more often so your audiologist can pick up on any hearing problems early on. This will allow them to provide you with the best treatment plan to prevent further hearing loss.

Schedule an appointment with El Dorado Hearing to get your hearing tested if you:

• Have a family history of hearing loss
• Are regularly exposed to loud noises
• Have difficulty engaging in conversations
• Are constantly turning up the volume

If the evaluation concludes there is hearing loss, our team of skilled audiologists can get you fitted for hearing aids or provide you with another solution to improve or restore your hearing.

If you’re experiencing hearing loss, the skilled audiologists at El Dorado Hearing can perform a diagnostic evaluation and provide the recommended treatment and hearing devices. Contact our experienced team to schedule your hearing evaluation.