Hearing loss is a common problem linked to getting older, with one in three adults over the age of 65 experiencing some levels of hearing loss. Most of the time, hearing loss is gradual, meaning that it starts slow and gets worse as time progresses. Unfortunately, most types of hearing loss cannot be reversed, but there are things that can be done to prevent it from getting any worse. 

Our audiologists recommend the following: 

1. Wear ear protection

While it is best to try and avoid noisy environments, sometimes that is impossible. Whether you work with heavy machinery, you are attending a concert, or even just mowing your lawn – there are a lot of activities that have harmful decibel levels associated with them. Wearing custom ear protection you get from an audiologist and hearing specialist in Omaha can help! Custom hearing protection is an effective and safe way to be in noisy environments without harmful repercussions. This will protect you from noise-induced hearing loss. 

2. Embrace technology

If you have visited with an audiologist and hearing specialist in Omaha and been fitted with a hearing aid device, the best thing to do is wear it! Embracing hearing technology helps you preserve the hearing that you have by helping to maintain your brain level activity. Hearing aids help your brain’s processing speed stay up-to-date by staying active and interpreting the sounds that it hears. 

3. Double-check your medication 

There are some medications that are ototoxic, meaning they can be damaging to the inner ear. This can lead to hearing loss or to a worsening of hearing loss that already exists. There are a ton of over-the-counter medications that can cause ototoxicity and prescribed medications as well. Talk to your primary care physician about possible solutions or about potentially switching medications if this becomes a concern. 

4. Know the signs

If you know what the initial signs of hearing loss are, you are more likely to recognize the symptoms early. Some of the most common signs include: having difficulty hearing over the phone, missing out on high-pitched sounds like doorbells or birds singing, your favorite phrase is “can you repeat that,” and having tinnitus symptoms.  

5. Focus on full-body wellness

Keeping your body healthy as a whole will, in turn, help your ears to stay healthy. Exercising regularly, eating well, and other healthy habits will help to lower your chances of developing hearing problems or making them worse.

6. Get regular exams 

There is no better way to help prevent your hearing loss from worsening than to regularly visit with an audiologist and hearing specialist in Omaha. An annual hearing test is essential to allow your audiologist to compare results year after year. This allows them to catch any problems that develop early and start treatment as soon as possible. 

Visit us!

Are you looking for a trusted audiologist and hearing specialist in Omaha you can visit? We have two of the best in town at Active Hearing Health! Make an appointment with Dr. Nikki or Dr. Noel today and they can help get your hearing back on track.