Reduce your exposure to noise
Your ears are very sensitive and being exposed to
loud noises can damage your hearing, whether the noises are sudden,
such as a shotgun or fireworks, or long-term, such as loud music,
vehicles or machinery.
There are many different types of activities that can damage
your hearing. You may not realise that the noise generated from
driving a golf ball off the tee is very loud and can damage your
hearing over time.
There are many work situations that require ear protection.
Musicians need protection for their ears, as do people driving open
top cars and swimmers.
If you are regularly exposed to loud sounds your hearing may be
damaged gradually, without you noticing and this damage is usually
permanent. The first solution is to reduce the time that you are
exposed to high noise levels. Amplifon's range of ear
protection devices includes noise-cancelling earplugs, ear
defenders and headphones to protect your hearing in a wide
range of environments. You can get ready-fit or made-to-measure
devices.
Researchers have found that antioxidants, such as vitamins C and
E and betacarotene, supplements that contain magnesium or even an
occasional glass of red wine can help to minimise noise-induced
hearing loss.
Visit your local branch and talk to one of our hearing aid
audiologists, who can advise you on the most appropriate product
for your needs and answer any questions you have about hearing
protection and hearing loss.
Keep your ears healthy
Here are some tips for keeping your ears
healthy:
- Never poke anything into your ears. The lining of the ear is
delicate and you can easily damage it
- Don't use cotton buds to clean your ears. They can irritate the
ear canal and push wax back inside, making it more difficult to
remove
- To keep ears clean, wash the visible part of the ear and behind
the ear using a little soap. Then wipe the soap away with rinsed
fingers and dry with a thin towel
- Don't immerse your ears in bath water, as body bacteria may
enter your ear canal and could cause an infection
- Try a drop of olive oil in each ear once a week to soften
earwax and encourage it to move out of the ear naturally
- Use earplugs to protect your ears from dust and loud noise
Don't ignore ear problems; they won't improve without proper
treatment. The longer you leave an ear problem, the longer it may
take to treat.
If you think your hearing may be affected by noise at work, talk
to your employer, who has a legal duty under European Union
regulations to assess and control the risks. As a general guide,
you shouldn't have to put up with noise levels at work that are
louder than a busy street.
If you experience any loss of hearing, whatever you think has
caused it, visit your nearest Amplifon branch for a free, full
hearing test and expert advice.
