Take care of your hearing
Your ears are delicate organs. By taking a few simple steps to protect them, you may be able to prevent hearing loss caused by excessive noise or foreign objects.
To protect yourself from noise:
- Pay attention to noise in your workplace. If the sound level exceeds 85 dB SPL, reduce the noise level or wear ear protectors.
- Lower the volume of your television, stereo and iPod. Take special care if you use headphones or earbuds.
- Be careful not to turn up your car stereo volume too loudly to compensate for noise from the engine or the wind.
- Wear custom noise filters or solid earplugs if you go to rock concerts or nightclubs. Take a break so your ears can rest, and don’t stand near loudspeakers.
- Wear earmuffs or solid earplugs for outstanding noise protection if you use noisy equipment such as drills, lawnmowers, etc.
To avoid damage from foreign objects:
- Don’t use cotton wool to protect or clean your ears. Doing so may push wax down onto your eardrum and can increase the production of wax and/or damage the eardrum.
- Don’t put fingers, cotton swabs or towels in your ears. These can also push wax down onto your eardrum and damage your skin.
- Avoid washing with unclean water to prevent ear infections.