As a parent, your family’s health will always be a priority in your life – meaning that you are likely doing everything you can to raise a healthy family. However, it is important that you pay just as much attention to your hearing and ears as you do the rest of your body. After all, thousands of articles are shared each week about healthy eating exercise, but we see far fewer about how and why you should take care of your hearing – despite its importance.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to take care of your family’s hearing.
- Be conscious of your surroundings as much as possible, avoiding spending too much time in particularly noisy areas. This is particularly important when your children are younger, as they are much more sensitive to loud noises. However, if you or your partner works in a space where they are exposed to prolonged noise – such as heavy machinery – they need to wear the appropriate protective gear.
- Know the hearing loss signs to look out for so that you can address issues sooner rather than later. Again, this may be particularly important when you are caring for long children, who may not be able to inform you of any issues they are facing. You can sometimes notice signs of poor hearing (or hearing loss) in young children if they do not appear to respond to noises or when you call their name.
- Ensure the whole family attends regular hearing check-ups with a hearing instrument specialist who can provide you with the support and guidance you need to deal with any issues that may arise. Remember, you do not necessarily need to wait until symptoms appear to get your hearing tested.
- Do your best to avoid making common hearing mistakes in the home. For example, you should teach your children the importance of keeping your music and TV at a sufficient volume – as persistent exposure to loud sounds can damage your ears significantly. The same rule applies when they listen to something through headphones – as though they may not seem that loud, they can still cause damage to your ears.
- Teach your children about the importance of keeping their ears clean – but do not encourage them to use Q-tips. Though they have often been used to remove ear wax from the ears, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t use a q tip to clean your ear, as they can actually cause more harm than good.
- Whether you are planning a family trip to the beach or will be taking a dip in a pool this summer – wear earplugs when you are spending time in the water. They can effectively stop water from entering your ear, causing a build-up of moisture that could lead to an ear infection.
- Remember that good ear health doesn’t mean preventing hearing loss alone – you also need to avoid infections that could cause further problems down the line. For example, inner infections can even be caused by smoke inhalation and other external factors.