It’s that time of year again where love is in the air. Forget about the flowers, the chocolates and soppy cards, we’re talking about self care and that includes ear health. Good hearing helps us stay connected and enjoy meaningful conversations with those we love. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life it’s easy to overlook routine ear care but don’t forget to show your ears some love.
Ways to show your ears some love
Clean with care
If your ears are feeling blocked, uncomfortable or itchy, it can be so tempting to poke around in there for some relief. Please don’t! Avoid using cotton buds as you could risk pushing the wax further in and causing damage. Arrange an appointment with your GP or audiologist to check for and safely remove any wax blockages. For more information on ear wax removal, you can check out our blog here.
Protect your ears
If your Valentine’s plans will be in a noisy environment like a gig, club or sporting event, then it’s worth taking earplugs to protect your hearing. If you’re not sure if you should be wearing earplugs, then ‘Should I wear earplugs?‘ may be for you!
Keep the volume down
Keeping your music, podcasts or favourite show at a safe volume is really important, especially when wearing headphones. It’s also a good idea to take regular breaks from your headphones, about five minutes every hour will give your ears a good rest. You can find out more information on listening to music safely from RNID here.
Regular ear checks
It’s so common to have our eyesight checked every two years or our teeth checked every six months but it’s easy to forget about our ears. How often you should have an ear check or hearing test differs depending on your age and various risk factors. The general rule of thumb is:
Under 50 years old – Every 3 to 5 years
50-60 years old – Every 1 to 3 years
Over 60 – Every year
If you work in a noisy environment – Every year
If you wear hearing aids – Every 1 to 2 years
