Take care of your hearing so that it can continue to take care of you.
While many people will face some degree of hearing loss due to age, there are still quite a few people who could have prevented hearing loss just by protecting their hearing against loud noises and environments. In fact, about 40 million American adults between the ages of 20 and 69 have noise-induced hearing loss. Our Chesterfield, MO, otolaryngologist Dr. Paul Burk wants to help you preserve your hearing for years to come. Here are some strategies to start implementing into your daily routine,
Turn Down the Volume
No matter whether you are playing your stereo or watching TV, it’s important to keep the volume at a reasonable level. One way to find out if the volume is too loud is to ask other members of your family. Even if you don’t have someone around to chastise you for playing the TV too loudly, there are apps that will determine whether or not you should turn down the volume.
Since not being able to hear the television is a sign of hearing loss, if this is an issue you are dealing with regularly you may want to turn to our Chesterfield, MO, ENT doctor for a hearing evaluation.
Use Quieter Tools
Whether you work with heavy machinery or you are just using tools at home, it’s important to reduce your exposure to these noises. To put things into perspective, everyone should limit exposure to sounds that exceed 85 decibels (dB) and even a simple device like a blender ranges from 80-90 decibels. So, you can only imagine what running the lawnmower could do to your hearing over time. CDC’s Buy Quiet initiative can help you find quieter tools and machinery for both work and at home to protect against noise-induced hearing loss.
Wear Protective Devices
It’s important to protect your ears if you are going to be around noisy machinery, tools or environments. Going to a concert? Pop in earplugs during the show! Working on a construction site? Wear the appropriate and approved protective earmuffs. While it’s best to avoid these loud surroundings, we also know that for some people this isn’t possible. In this case, wearing earplugs or muffs are your best bet.
Whether you need to get a hearing screening or you’re dealing with symptoms of chronic sinusitis know that the medical team at Ear, Nose, Throat, Balloon Sinuplasty can provide you with the extensive ENT care you are looking for in and around in Chesterfield, MO. To schedule an appointment please call (314) 477-4995.