Once your hearing is damaged, it’s gone forever. That’s why we’re raising awareness of the prevalence of hearing loss, the importance of early diagnosis, and the option of taking action to find the best hearing solution for you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to start looking after your ears! Here are nine simple ways to protect your ears and hearing health.

1. Use earplugs in noisy environments
   About 15% of Americans suffer from noise-induced hearing loss due to noisy work or leisure environments.
   
2. Turn down the volume
   According to the World Health Organisation, 1.1 billion adolescents and young adults worldwide are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss due to unsafe use of audio devices. Earplugs are particularly dangerous because they are placed directly against the eardrum. If possible, choose over-ear headphones.
   
3. Give your ears time to recover
   If you are exposed to loud noises for long periods of time, such as at a concert or bar, your ears will need time to recover. Researchers have found that it takes an average of 16 hours of quiet time for your ears to recover from a noisy night out.
   
4. Stop using cotton swabs in your ears
   The ear is a self-cleaning organ and wax prevents dust and other harmful particles from entering the ear canal. Also, stuffing anything into the ear canal has the potential to damage sensitive organs such as the ear drum.
   
5. Take medication only as directed
   Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, can sometimes cause hearing loss.
   
6. Keep your ears dry
   Too much moisture can allow bacteria to enter and attack the ear canal. This can lead to swimmer’s ear or other types of ear infections that can be dangerous to your hearing.
   
7. Stand up and walk around
   Aerobic exercise, such as walking, running, or cycling, transports blood to all parts of your body, including your ears. This helps the internal parts of the ear to stay healthy and perform at their maximum potential.
   
8. Manage stress levels
   Stress and anxiety are associated with temporary and permanent tinnitus (deafness). High levels of stress can send your body into fight or flight mode, which is generally thought to travel to your inner ear and cause tinnitus symptoms.
   
9. Regular check-ups
   Ask your primary care physician to include hearing tests in your regular check-ups. Because hearing loss is progressive, it is also recommended that you have an annual hearing consultation with your hearing care professional.

If you think you may have a hearing loss – or if you suspect that a loved one may have hearing difficulties – it is important to have your hearing checked by an audiologist. If you have difficulty hearing in a crowded environment, you turn up the volume on the TV or radio more than others, you often ask people to repeat your words, or you hear ringing in your ears, then it’s time to have a hearing test.

We’ve put together a huge collection of books about ear hearing health and hearing loss. If you want to know more, check our books below.