Every October, we celebrate National Protect Your Hearing Month. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders created this annual event in 2008. During this month of observation, we raise awareness about noise induced hearing loss and how we can protect our hearing.
28 million Americans could benefit from wearing hearing aids. However, few actually do. According to a 2018 survey, only about 8 percent of Americans consistently wear their hearing aids during loud events (entertainment and sports events). The World Health Organization also predicted that by 2050, 900 million people around the world will suffer from hearing loss. Wearing protective devices such as earplugs in noisy places will help reduce noise exposure that can damage your ears.
There are many ways in which we can raise awareness and protect our ears from permanent hearing loss. Below are a few ways in which you can:
- know what is risky- decibels above 85 is considered damaging to the ears
- spend time in quiet, calm environments
- use noise control apps
- block out loud sounds by wearing protective devices such as earplugs or earmuffs
- check if your hearing is clear and that nothing is blocking the ear canal (earwax)
- wear headphones at a low volume
- encourage others to get their hearing checked
According to some research and studies done, a healthy diet and exercise is good for your hearing. In 2021, Harvard University published a study in The Journal of Nutrition that found that those that eat healthy have a 30 percent lower risk of experiencing hearing loss than those who eat unhealthy. It is believed that if you eat healthy you can avoid hearing loss because the blood vessels that give oxygen and nutrients to the inner ear are healthy. The American Diabetes Association also mentioned that hearing loss happens twice as much in people with type 2 diabetes. When your blood glucose levels are high this can damage the blood vessels in the inner ear.
Hearing is something we take for granted. Do not put your hearing at risk. If you are experiencing issues hearing it is important to get your hearing checked immediately. If you are in need of a hearing evaluation, give us a call to find out if your insurance is covered and learn more about what benefits you have covered for Miami hearing aids!
