The Bad Habits That Will Affect Your Hearing Health

Turn the music down  (Image License: Pixabay)

Chances are, you are probably quite adept at caring for the rest of your health.

You might exercise daily, eat well, and research ways live a happier and healthier life. But have you taken time out to consider your hearing? Without it, your happiness in life will be compromised, so here's what you need to do.

First, read our article on understanding ear health, and commit to further research for better care of your hearing.

Secondly, avoid those bad habits that are going to damage your hearing in both the short and the long-term. For your benefit, we have listed a few of them below.

Bad Habit #1: Smoking

You already know that smoking is bad for you (cigarette companies even give you warnings on the packaging), but did you know this terrible habit is also bad for your hearing? Both the smoke and the nicotine from cigarettes create problems for your hearing health, as exposure from both can damage your auditory nerves and the lining of the inner ear. There is more in this article on the matter. So, aside from the risk of cancer and a variety of respiratory diseases, let this be another incentive to kick the habit if you haven't done so already.

Bad Habit #2: Drinking alcohol

This is another habit that, in excess, can create long-term problems for your health, such as the increased risk of liver disease. However, alcohol is another contributing factor to hearing loss, as the more there is in your bloodstream, the greater the damage to the cells in your cochlea. This isn't the only way alcohol can affect your hearing, as there is the potential for brain damage too, and that can affect the brain's ability to process sound. Here are other contributing factors that might just inspire you to put down that bottle of red that you might have become prone to at the weekend!

Bad Habit #3: Listening to music too loud

Any loud noise over 80 decibels can affect your hearing, and these include the sounds from household appliances such as your food blender and vacuum cleaner, as well as outdoor sounds, such as those pertaining to roadworks. To protect yourself, you might wear earmuffs both inside and out, or avoid certain sounds altogether (this isn't an excuse not to use your vacuum). Another contributing factor is the music that some of us play through our headphones or the music that we experience when visiting night clubs and bars on an evening out. You can't do much about the latter (other than spending time in quieter venues), but you can do something about your headphones. As a general rule, if other people can hear the sounds coming out from your headphone speakers, then it is too loud. Adjust the volume then to preserve your hearing.

Bad Habit #4: Not getting your hearing checked

If you know you might be suffering from hearing loss, then do the sensible thing, and go for a hearing test. Sure, you might need to wear a hearing aid - read here to learn more on what to expect - but that's better than going through life uttering the words 'pardon' and 'what' during your daily conversations. So, don't procrastinate, even if you don't want to face reality. An audiologist might actually suggest ways to reverse your hearing loss, but if you don't make an appointment, you will never know what help is available to you. 

Take care, and thanks for reading!