Everyone enjoys listening to a favorite song just a little too loud now and then, but at what cost? We only have five senses, and our hearing aids us in everyday life. Take care of your ears now so that you can enjoy them to their full capacity.
What is Hearing Loss?
Deep inside the ear, the cochlea intakes sounds by moving hair cells that vibrate or move with sound. The louder the sound, the greater the movement and an extremely loud sound can shove the hair cells to the point that they are damaged. Once damaged, these cells can no longer function to their full capacity. With this reduced capacity, comes a reduction in hearing quality.
These functions are so minuscule that we don’t think about what’s happening but it’s important to remember that loud noises can damage our hearing. Protecting our ears ensures that we can live with quality hearing for as long as possible.
Taking Care of Your Hearing
Here are four easy ways you can protect your hearing:
- Music Volume The optimal volume for listening to music is that you are still able to hear someone next to you talk while you are listening to a song.
- Choose the Right Earbuds Earbuds that seal your ear canal will create a louder volume within your ear causing more damage than you anticipate.
- Use Hearing Protection If you know you are going to be at a loud event or in a work zone, use ear protection.
- Limit Exposure While concerts are a fun experience, try to limit how often you are in a loud setting.
The more proactive you are about protecting your hearing, the healthier you will be! If you have any questions or want information about our audiology team, check out our ear disease and hearing loss page. Contact us at (208) 336-4368 today!