Most of us don’t think much about our hearing until something goes wrong. In fact, we don’t even notice that our hearing is declining until it goes away entirely. We wear sunscreen to protect our skin and brush our teeth to keep our smiles bright, but when it comes to our ears, they don’t always get the same love that they should.
The truth is, though, that hearing health is a big deal as it impacts how we connect with others, enjoy music, and stay alert to the world around us. It also has quite the impact on mental health. You can feel very isolated when you’re unable to hear your friends and family and that can make you withdraw into yourself. When this happens, you end up missing out on your best possible times, so supporting your hearing has a positive effect on your mental health.
Thankfully, taking care of your ears doesn’t have to be complicated, nor does it have to be boring. There are plenty of new studies out there, like those in hearing and cannabis research, that explore fresh new ways to support auditory health, so it’s never been a better time to tune into your hearing wellness than right now. Let’s take a look at four ways that you can better support your hearing health.
Turn the volume down.
Everybody loves to crank the playlist where they can, but it’s a better idea to turn the volume down and listen at 60%. The reason for this is so that you’re not having prolonged noise exposure against your very sensitive eardrums! You want to enjoy your music, not feel like your head is being blasted apart. If somebody else can hear your music around you, it’s far too loud. Your future self and your eardrums will thank you for turning the volume down early.
Make sure that you have hearing protection.
If you’re going to concerts, sporting events, fireworks, or even running the lawnmower, all of these can be hard on your hearing. Earplugs and noise cancelling earmuffs can come in from this. You don’t have to wear giant phone plugs everywhere you go, but there are some stylish and discreet pairs out there on hand for loud places that can make a huge difference.
Keep your ears clean.
It’s so tempting and satisfying to dig around in your ears with cotton swabs, but your ears are actually self cleaning and most people don’t realize that. Instead, let the wax work its way out naturally or use ear drops if you need to. If you’re really concerned about build up, you should visit your doctor and they’ll be able to help. Clean ears are good to have but over cleaning can hurt.
Stay informed.
Understanding your overall hearing Wellness is so important. For instance, emerging Hearing and Cannabis Research is exploring how certain compounds in cannabis can affect auditory processing. It’s still early and not a DIY solution, but it’s a good reminder that science is always evolving.
These are such simple habits and so easy to build into your everyday routine. You don’t need a full lifestyle overhaul, just a few tweaks and a little awareness. Your ears will do so much for you, from being your morning alarm to listening to evening playlists, so it’s only fair to return the favor. Keeping them safe, happy, and listening to the world around you is important.
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