[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/09\/steps-to-prevent-hearing-loss\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/09\/steps-to-prevent-hearing-loss\/","headline":"Take These Steps to Prevent Hearing Loss","name":"Take These Steps to Prevent Hearing Loss","description":"Fortunately, you can take simple steps to protect your hearing when you\u2019re young.","datePublished":"2017-09-25","dateModified":"2022-06-03","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","name":"Primary Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/primary-care-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/primary-care\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/082017BLG_HEARINGPROTECTION.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/082017BLG_HEARINGPROTECTION.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/09\/steps-to-prevent-hearing-loss\/","about":["Family Health","Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":614,"keywords":["hearing loss","hearing loss prevention","preventative health"],"articleBody":"Age-related hearing loss happens to many of us as we get older. Causes include changes in the inner ear, middle ear, or along the nerve pathways to the brain. Some medical conditions and medicines can also play a role in hearing loss.\u201cHearing loss is common,\u201d says Steven Jones, MD, an otolaryngologist with UPMC Metro ENT Associates. \u201cAbout 50 million Americans have clinically significant hearing loss, and by that I mean the type of hearing loss that can affect them in their day-to-day lives. We’ve also found that hearing loss is more likely with age and, if you reach age 75, you have a 2 in 3 chance of having some sort of significant hearing loss.\u201d\u00a0If you\u2019re regularly exposed to loud sound, however, you can begin to experience hearing loss at a younger age. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to protect your hearing while you’re young.Find a UPMC primary care physician by visiting the UPMC Primary Care website or by calling 1-855-676-UPMCPCP (8762-727).Causes of Hearing LossExposure to excessive noise levels \u2014 using power tools without protection, attending loud concerts or sporting events, turning up the volume on your headphones or earbuds, or riding on or driving a motorcycle \u2014 can put you at risk for hearing damage. And occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related health issues in the United States.\u201cFor physicians, there’s two main types of hearing loss,\u201d says Dr. Jones. \u201cThe most common one is nerve hearing loss, which is the type that we see in the elderly. It’s a natural degeneration of the hearing nerve and there’s no cure for it. The only thing we can offer for patients is fitting them with hearing aids.\u201d\u00a0\u201cThe second type is what we call conductive hearing loss,\u201d Dr. Jones adds. \u201cThe sound vibrations that enter the ear are not conducted to the nerve. So we think of things like blockage with earwax, fluid in the ears, a hole in the ear drum, and occasionally, some other issues. These are things that are often correctable with either surgery or medication.\u201d\u00a0RELATED: Signs Your Hearing Aids May Need AdjustedPreventing Hearing LossBe Alert to Signs of Hearing LossThere are ways to tell if you have been exposed to hazardous noise.Do you notice ringing or buzzing in your ears?Do you hear people talking but have a hard time understanding what they\u2019re saying?Do your ears feel \u201cfull\u201d after you leave a noisy area?What You Can Do to Protect Your HearingWhen you are exposed to excessive noise, wear hearing protection. Earplugs and noise-blocking headphones help reduce the amount of sound reaching your ears. And try to limit the amount of time you are exposed to noise.You can help protect your hearing by taking a few simple steps in your day-to-day life:Don\u2019t crank up your music to a high volume.Limit the amount of time that you use headphones or earbuds.Talk to your doctor about earwax. Wax build-up can make hearing more difficult.Do not use a cotton swab to clean inside your ears. \u201cYou can push the wax closer to the eardrum and cause damage,\u201d says David Harinstein, MD, of HealthFirst Medical Associates-UPMC.Quit smoking. Recent studies show smokers are 70 percent more likely to have some form of hearing loss.RELATED: How to Properly Clean Your EarsIf you have concerns about your hearing, talk to your primary care doctor.Find a UPMC primary care physician by visiting the UPMC Primary Care website or by calling 1-855-676-UPMCPCP (7652-727).Editor's Note: This article was originally published on September 25, 2017, and was last reviewed on June 3, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2017","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"09","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/\/09\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Take These Steps to Prevent Hearing Loss","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2017\/09\/steps-to-prevent-hearing-loss\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]