May is known as Better Hearing and Speech Month and serves as a reminder to take care of our hearing health.
Our ability to hear plays an essential role in our daily lives, and protecting it should be a top priority. Unfortunately, hearing loss is becoming increasingly common, with over 466 million people worldwide suffering from disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. However, there are steps we can take to protect our hearing and prevent hearing loss.
It’s crucial to be aware of the risks that can damage our hearing. Exposure to loud noises is a leading cause of hearing loss, whether it be from loud music, construction sites, or machinery. Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels can cause irreversible damage to our hearing, and even brief exposure to extremely loud sounds, such as fireworks or gunshots, can cause immediate hearing loss. It’s important to protect our ears when we know we’ll be exposed to loud noises, whether that be by wearing earplugs or using noise-canceling headphones.
Another risk factor for hearing loss is age. As we age, our hearing naturally declines, and we become more susceptible to hearing loss. It’s important to have regular hearing check-ups to monitor our hearing and catch any issues early. This can help us catch any issues early and take action before they become more severe. Hearing tests are painless and non-invasive and can be done at a doctor’s office or hearing center.
Additionally, certain medications and medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can contribute to hearing loss.
There are several steps we can take to protect our hearing and prevent hearing loss. Firstly, we should limit our exposure to loud noises whenever possible. This means avoiding excessively loud music or wearing earplugs when in noisy environments. We should also be mindful of the volume when using headphones or earbuds, and take breaks to give our ears a rest.
Additionally, we should prioritize our ear health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking, which has been linked to hearing loss. We should also be proactive about managing any medical conditions we may have that could contribute to hearing loss.
Protecting our hearing is an essential part of maintaining our overall health and wellbeing. While hearing loss can be a common and often irreversible condition, there are steps we can take to prevent it. By being mindful of the risks and taking proactive steps to protect our ears, we can maintain our hearing health for years to come. If you have concerns about your hearing or would like to schedule a hearing test, reach out to your healthcare provider or a hearing specialist. Remember, prevention is key when it comes to hearing loss, and taking action today can protect our hearing for tomorrow.
If you find that you are having difficulty understanding conversations, have developed a ringing or buzzing sensation in the ears, or are completely Deaf, Neosensory can help.
Our newest innovation, Clarify, uses haptic feedback and sensory substitution to help train your brain to recognize parts of speech that your ears may not be able to hear. Clarify uses specified vibratory patterns on your wrist to alert you to parts of speech, and teaches your brain to recognize them as being heard.
For those suffering from tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, Duo can help using a similar technology. Duo uses bimodal stimulation to teach your brain to ignore the ringing. By wearing the device in Tinnitus Relief mode and listening to special tones from our free app for just 10-30 minutes a day, you can reduce the volume of your tinnitus. These results have been scientifically proven, and you can read about how incredibly effective Duo is in our peer-reviewed study published in The International Tinnitus Journal.
If you or someone you know suffers from severe or complete hearing loss, Sound Awareness can help you experience the sounds around you. Sound Awareness uses millions of specified vibratory patterns to alert a user to noises in their environment. It can tell you if a car is passing by, whether or not your baby is crying, or if someone is calling your name. Sound Awareness is not only useful as a safety device, but can also be used as an alarm clock or to enjoy music in a new way. You can see Sound Awareness in action in this fantastic video from Bloomberg News.
Visit Neosensory.com to learn more about our neuroscientist-created innovations and how they can help you. Don’t forget to use code BETTERHEARING at checkout during the month of may for a discount on all of our devices.