Keeping Your Ears Healthy
- By:Angela Rogers
Without our ears we would have difficulty carrying on conversations and would not be able to listen to some of the greatest musical works of art that have been produced. Okay, we would not be able to listen to any music at all if we did not maintain our hearing. For some professions, such as a sonar operator, a good sense of hearing is essential, but for most of us, we merely need to be able to hear well enough to listen to and respond to our daily conversations.
One of the most common cause of hearing loss is listening to music too loudly. This is the preferred method among youth and people who prefer to listen to heavy metal music, but repeatedly exposing yourself to sound volume of one hundred decibels causes nerve damage and may cause eventual hearing loss. Turn the music down is not just a phrase older people shout out to annoy you – loud music really is harmful to teenagers.
In situations where the sound is likely to be above one hundred decibels for an extended period of time ear plugs are often issued to workers. It's a good idea, not only does it reduce background noise, it also prevents the full level of noise from being heard. Ear plugs come in two types – soft ones that fit in the ear canal and hard ones which fit over the ear. Whether they are designed to absorb sound or reflect sound, they do not render the person deaf, merely bring the background noises down to a manageable level.
The next thing to remember to maintain good ear health is not to stick anything in the ear canal. Cleaning products such as Q-tips or the occasional and far grosser method of sticking a rubber pencil eraser in your ear may collect ear wax, but the ear wax serves as a coating to help and protect the ears. Using a Q-tip to clean off excess ear wax on the outside of the ear is acceptable, but never put anything into the canal.
Sometimes our hearing deteriorates as we age, a hearing aid can help continue the conversation, but it cannot restore the ability that already has been lost. Having your ears checked once or twice a year is enough to ensure that your sense of hearing is in good working order and spot any potential problems.
About the author:
Angela Rogers is an expert in the field of health care, weight loss and acne treatment.