Christina Vedia

 Deadline Date: 19 July 2018 Client: Scottsdale Ears, Nose & Throat Copywriter Initials: CV Editor Initials: Blog Number: 3 Heading: Avoiding Hearing Loss Word Count: 524 Content: Minimum 350 words, ensure American spelling, font: size 12, Arial Our sense of hearing empowers us and helps us live our lives to the fullest. It is essential for communication and socialization. It makes us in tune with our surroundings and keeps us from potential danger by letting us aware of the sounds of distress in our environment. Our sense of hearing also lets us enjoy and relax during our wee time when we are listening to music, watching movies, or just having a good laugh with people we care about. Our ears, the sensory organ responsible for allowing us to hear, are most often taken for granted. Here are some hearing health damaging mistakes that you could be making right now and how you can avoid them: 1. Working on a too noisy environment - Studies reveal that approximately 15% of Americans suffer from noise-induced hearing loss due to loud working or leisure environment. While this can’t be avoided, one can certainly avoid the damage it may cause by using Earplugs. 2. Unsafe use of audio devices - The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that a billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening practices. In teen-agers and young adults between ages 12 to 35 years old, almost 50% are exposed to unsafe levels of sound from using their personal devices. Protect your ears by following the 60/60 rule, keep that volume at no more than 60% for no more than 60 minutes daily. 3. Frequent partying, going to clubs, discos, or concerts - from the same statistics from WHO, around 40% are exposed to damaging sound levels at bars, disco, and clubs. Frequent exposure to these activities often result to irreversible hearing loss. So take a break and give your ears time to recover. If it can’t be avoided, don’t forget to bring your earplugs. 4. Using earbuds or any in-ear headphones - this is dangerous as these fit right into your eardrum and causes a lot of stress to your ears. Instead of using these, opt for the over-the-ear headsets instead, a lot of them looks way cooler anyway. 5. Using cotton swabs - A lot of us is guilty of this mistake. It was a common practice to use swabs to clean ear wax but doctors highly advise to stop using them at once. Why? Our ears are self-cleaning organs and a little bit of wax is actually good as it prevents dust and other particles in entering the canal. It’s our ears’ own filter. Doctors recommend using a damp towel to gently clean outside the canal. 6. Not getting regular hearing check-ups - Guilty as charged again? A lot of people make this mistake. Hearing loss develops gradually and effects are irreversible. Regular checkups help us recognize the signs of hearing loss early on and take the necessary precaution. Are you exposed to these threats to your hearing health? At Scottsdale Ear, Nose & Throat, our hearing center specializes in helping you understand the warning signs of hearing loss and diagnose any reduced hearing before it becomes too late. We work with patients of all ages, helping them to experience better hearing once again. Book your appointment today!