Hearing loss prevention

March 3, 2024 - International Ear and Hearing Health Day is observed.

Currently, hearing loss is considered the most common sensory disability in the world.

Main causes of hearing problems:

The main causes of deafness and hearing impairment (partial hearing loss) are genetic disorders, chronic ear infections, a number of diseases such as rubella, measles, mumps, meningitis, as well as exposure to certain medications and harmful environmental factors, primarily noise. Hearing impairments can also develop in individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, are overweight, have diabetes, chronic alcoholism, or smoke. Natural hearing loss occurs only in old age.

Causes of hearing loss can be congenital and acquired:

Congenital causes lead to hearing loss present at birth or acquired shortly after birth.

Acquired causes lead to hearing loss at any age.

Prevention

1. Among preventive measures, population immunization, maternal and child health protection, and occupational hygiene are most often mentioned.

2. Proper nutrition plays a significant role in preventing hearing loss. It is advisable that the daily diet includes foods rich in vitamins E, C, P, and A. To achieve this, consume more citrus fruits, apples, lettuce, spinach, various berries, green and bulb onions, cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, and pumpkin. Magnesium is beneficial for good hearing. It is abundant in legumes, vegetables, and nuts. It is also recommended to supplement nutrition with daily earlobe massage.

3. Earwax or foreign objects blocking the external auditory canal can lead to hearing loss at any age. Such hearing loss is usually moderate and should only be addressed by a specialist. Attempting to remove earwax plugs or foreign objects yourself is strictly prohibited due to the risk of self-injury!!!

Avoid letting children insert foreign objects (buttons, pills, small toy parts, etc.) into their ears; avoid picking their ears with fingers, pencils, pens, etc.; do not slap a child on the back of the head or pull their earlobes.

4. The increasing level of exposure to loud sounds in cultural, entertainment, and sports facilities is a growing concern. Regular exposure to loud sounds poses a serious threat to the development of hearing loss.

Limit exposure to loud sounds. Specialists do not recommend exposing hearing organs to sound loads above 80 dB for more than two hours a day. Doctors consider exposure to sound at 110 dB to be dangerous for hearing.

Listen to "live" sounds. Try to spend more time in nature, listen to quiet music through speakers, and give up headphones for a while. This will allow sensitive hair cells to recover after the loud sounds of the metropolis and constant use of headphones.

Do not listen to extremely loud music, and if you do turn it on, stay at a considerable distance from the sound source. This is especially true for cars, where the space (cabin) is minimal.

5. Visit an ENT specialist every six months without fail. Hearing problems detected and resolved in a timely manner by a specialist will allow you to avoid worrying about a possible decrease in quality of life due to such issues.

6. See a doctor immediately if you notice a sudden decrease in hearing (especially after colds or injuries to the auricle and surrounding tissues).

State Institution "Rassonsky RTCGE", 2024.