• View Our Location
  • Contact Us
  • Schedule appointment
SHAC_Logo_rnd4_1_RGB-01
  • Memphis, TN : (901) 415-6667
  • Memphis, TN (901) 415-6667
  • View our location
Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Services
  • Your Hearing
  • Hearing Aids
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

Back

Is hearing loss avoidable?

Posted by Shea Hearing Aid Center on October 09, 2019
That’s a great question, and a complicated one to answer! Hearing loss can be caused by a multitude of things: some are preventable and some are not. For me to write about everything that can cause hearing loss — and then all the ways to avoid each cause — would make for a very long blog post. We will save that for another day.

Instead, I am going to write about what you can do to avoid the second-leading cause of hearing loss — noise-induced hearing loss.

Did you know that one in four U.S. adults have noise-induced hearing loss? That’s a lot of people (at least 40 million)! The good news is that you can protect your hearing in most situations. And if you practice good hearing protection, not only do you increase your chances of avoiding noise-induced hearing loss, it will  go a long way towards helping you avoid age-related hearing loss, which is the number one cause of hearing loss.

Here are a few ways to protect your hearing (and help avoid hearing loss):

Minimize your exposure to loud noises

 

This is the best way to avoid hearing loss. How do you know what’s too loud? Environments where you have to raise your voice to talk to other people, where you can't hear what people nearby are saying, where the noise hurts your ears or, really, where any noise exceeds 85 decibels are too loud.

Wear hearing protection

 

There are times when you are put into loud situations or environments and you simply can’t avoid them. These include certain work environments, sporting events, concerts, bars/clubs, mowing your lawn, etc. In those situations, you should use hearing protection.

Hearing protection comes in a variety of different styles including ear plugs, custom plugs, “earmuffs” and more. 

Watch the volume

 

With the way technology is advancing these days, almost everyone has something in their ears. Consider investing in higher quality earphones that block out background noise, to help you moderate your listening levels in noisier places.

Also, the general rule of thumb to use when setting your volume is: You should be able to hear and converse with a person arm’s length away from you easily. If you cannot, then it is too loud.

Buy quieter products

 

You probably never think about how loud some of your household products are. Some products such as children’s toys, blenders and hair dryers. can get louder than 100 decibels! That means that it would take less than 15 minutes of use for you to damage your hearing. I justified buying a fancy new hair dryer because of how loud my old hair dryer was. 

There are other decisions or changes you can make in your life to help avoid hearing loss, including:

Don’t put anything in your ear

 

Your ears naturally clean themselves. By putting products in your ears, you can cause infections and or actually puncture your ear drum, which can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Don’t smoke

 

Research studies have shown a positive correlation between smoking and hearing loss. It’s better just to say no.

Keep a healthy diet

 

Other research studies show that women who maintain a healthy diet have reduced risk/rates of moderate to severe hearing loss compared to women who do not eat healthy.

Get your hearing tested

 

Having your hearing tested regularly is a great way to know how your auditory system is working. By getting your hearing tested regularly, you will be able to monitor your hearing easily, know if any changes are occurring, and treat any hearing loss early, before it gets to be a problem.

Nothing is guaranteed to prevent hearing loss. But the advice above should help you avoid it, or at least put it off for as long as possible.

Blog Archive

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021

Contact us

Shea Hearing Aid Center
6133 Poplar Pike
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 415-6667
View our location
  • Facebook
  • 2021-09-10

    Never had a problem with any of my many visits.

    Gary Smith View Review
  • 2021-09-09

    I have been going to Shea Clinic for several years now and am very satisfied with my experiences....

    Dennis Morris View Review
  • 2021-09-08

    Everyone in the office is so nice and very accommodating! Highly recommend.

    Connie Looney View Review
  • 2021-09-07

    I was very pleased with my experience today at Shea Clinic. The Staff is very professional and Da...

    Betty Buchignani View Review
  • 2021-09-06

    Shea Clinic and Dr. Shea are wonderful! The audiologist is as well. I appreciate all your experti...

    L Peterson View Review
  • 2021-08-31

    Great experience. Dave is both personable and professional as is the office staff.

    Ken Carver View Review
  • 2021-08-30

    Just purchased so am just beginning, but so far am very pleased.

    Keith McGregor View Review
  • 2021-08-25

    Very enjoyable morning learning of new options that was very interesting. Am waiting for my new ...

    Paula Young View Review
  • 2021-08-23

    Always friendly and care about the patient

    Curtis Perry View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Bought first hearing aids in 2009, second set in 2016 and third set in June, 2021. First class se...

    Mike Ritz View Review
  • 2021-07-12

    Professional & prompt service. They explained everything thoroughly in helping me choose the bes...

    Rhonda View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Dave took time to check my hearing and adjust settings on my hearing aid. I am hearing better th...

    Cheryl Webb-Oliver View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Always helpful. Thanks

    Wayne Douglas View Review
  • 2021-05-03

    Friendly, knowledgeable, technicians. Teach you how to use your hearing aid, and monitor your set...

    Pat Everett View Review
  • 2021-02-15

    The Shea clinic and especially Dr Everett have been such an important contribution to the quality...

    Charles Richard Cozzens View Review
  • 2016-10-27

    I really didn't know what to expect when going to the Shea Ear Clinic- I had already had my heari...

    Rebecca Powers View Review
  • 2015-09-01

    It comes down to the people. The Shea Clinic professionals understand the pratfalls of hearing im...

    Jeff Brunker View Review
  • 2019-11-22

    The staff at Shea are very friendly and professional.

    Terry Robertson View Review
© 2022 - Shea Hearing Aid Center
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Hearing Test
  • Trademarks