Accidents Happen: A Guide to Children's Emergencies

Aging brings changes to the body in multiple ways, and if you've started to strain to hear people on the telephone or have a hard time hearing things, you might be concerned. If you work in a loud environment, you may be even more fearful hearing loss. Luckily, your hearing can be protected with actions like the following.

Block Sounds With Headphones

Earbuds have become all the rage when listening to your smartphone, tablet, computer, and other devices. They're easily inserted right into both ears and are easy to store and carry when you're on the go. However, these small buds are generally not as protective as larger headphones which surround the entire ear. Because they cover your ears, external sounds are less bothersome; volume can be much, much lower than with earbuds. Using lower volumes when listening to music or other sounds is often beneficial over time for your ears. 

Protect Ears at Work

If you're one of those people who work around drills, lawnmowers or rock bands every day, protecting your ears isn't likely to be your focus. However, you should be toting headphones along to ensure that the constant, loud noise isn't attacking your ears each day. If you're experiencing "ear ringing" when you leave work, that's a sign you need to be smarter about preserving your hearing. While headphones might not seem cool and you may be the only person wearing them, remember that your ears require the protection headphones provide.

Avoid Excessive Exposure to Water

Too much water in either ear could cause various minor ailments like swimmer's ear, but excessive moisture over time is very serious. That's because whenever moisture exists, there's a chance that bacteria could multiply and damage the inner parts of both your ears. Wear earplugs in the water whenever possible and ensure that they are completely dry when you leave the shower, lake, or pool.

Do Cardiovascular Exercise

You may never imagine that exercise could be fantastic for your ears, but cardiovascular exercise--like running--is something which could protect hearing. The enhanced blood circulation which happens with regular cardio routines ensures that the blood supply in your ear canals is fresh and full of the nutrients needed for those cells to perform well.

With adjustments and regular thought, good hearing should be a sense you enjoy for many more years. See audiologists regularly and ensure you have yearly screenings to keep track. For more information, contact your local