Steps to Protect Your Hearing at Home | Advanced ENT & Allergy

It’s important to be proactive about protecting your hearing no matter where you are. This includes your home. Let’s examine a few of the ways you may be inadvertently exposing yourself to hearing damage while at home, as well as steps you can take to protect your ears.

Reduce the Volume at Home

Couple watching TV at home with man pointing remote at the TV.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a growing problem across all age groups. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), “at least 10 million adults (6 percent) in the U.S. under age 70—and perhaps as many as 40 million adults (24 percent)—have features of their hearing test that suggest hearing loss in one or both ears from exposure to loud noise.”

Prolonged exposure to any noise louder than 85 decibels can cause damage to the hair cells of your inner ear and lead to permanent hearing loss. Household activities that may put you at risk include:

Listening to the TV or music at too high a volume
Hobbies like woodworking
Home repairs or mowing the lawn
Using loud household appliances

Avoid Using Cotton Swabs To Clean Your Ears

If you feel the need to clean your ears, you can do so gently with a warm washcloth. However, you should never stick cotton swabs or anything else inside your ear. This can actually push earwax deeper into the canal and cause injury, infection, and symptoms like ear pain, tinnitus and temporary hearing loss. Visit an ENT if you are concerned about earwax buildup.

Be Mindful of Medications That Can Cause Hearing Loss

Some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the ears leading to tinnitus, balance problems and hearing loss. While many of these medications are prescriptions, common over-the-counter pain relievers like Aspirin or ibuprofen can also cause damage, especially when taken in high doses. Never take more than a recommended dosage and ask your doctor if any of your current medications pose a threat to your hearing.

Ways To Protect Your Hearing at Home

In order to make sure you are keeping your ears safe while at home you should:

Listen to music and watch TV at reasonable volumes
Use hearing protection like earplugs when engaging in loud activities or hobbies
Check with your doctor about any hearing risks associated with the medication you take
When purchasing household items at ABC Discount Appliances or another New Jersey store, look for ones that operate at lower decibel levels
Avoid sticking cotton swabs or other objects into your ear
Schedule a hearing test at the first sign of any issues
If you are prescribed hearing aids, make sure to wear them whenever you are home apart from when you are sleeping or bathing

If you have additional questions about how to protect your ears at home, contact Advanced ENT & Allergy today and schedule an appointment.