Nearly one in six Americans has a hearing loss. However, there are lots of things that you can do to protect your hearing– even if you already have a hearing loss. Here are a few:
- Wear your hearing aids. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of your investment. Your brain is like any other muscle—it will atrophy when injured or impaired. Wearing your hearing aids will not only help to keep your brain active, but will help you to feel less fatigued. It will also help to improve your social health and well-being
- Take a walk! A 2013 study showed that people who walked an average of 2 hours a week showed a decreased risk of hearing loss. It’s not just walking, though—any physical activity that gets your heart pumping will have the same benefit.
- Stop smoking. Smokers are 28% more likely to develop or exacerbate hearing loss than non-smokers.
- Turn down the volume. This is especially relevant if you already have hearing loss, as you don’t want to damage what remains. Turn down the volume when listening to music and wear ear protection when around loud noises such as lawn mowers and power tools.
- Schedule a hearing test. If you haven’t had a hearing evaluation in over a year, schedule one today!
If you have questions or would like to schedule a free hearing consultation, give us a call at 801-770-0801!
