Throughout your life, you’ll only have one set of ears. It’s understandable that everyone enjoys occasionally turning up a favorite song or TV show. However, it’s important to remember that you do in moderation. You might be under the assumption that hearing loss only occurs when you get older which isn’t true. Hearing loss can occur at any age. With that in mind, here are five ways to help prevent hearing loss.

1. Don’t Clean Your Ears With Q Tips
   
   You might have assumed that q tips were invented to clean your ears. It’s important to remember that this is not true. As odd as it might seem, your ears need to be waxy. In fact, cleaning your ears with q tips can actually do more harm than good. Sometimes, q tips can cause earwax to be jammed further back. This can sometimes lead to a wax buildup occurring in your ears. Earwax is a type of natural guard, trapping dust and other small particles you don’t want in your ear. Therefore, it’s best to avoid cleaning your ears with q tips.
2. Use Earplugs When Needed
   
   In certain situations, you’ll be unable to avoid loud noises. Whether it’s at work or home, you’ll want to ensure that you bring along a pair of earplugs. What might seem loud to you could actually be causing hearing loss. Many people work in factories and other types of manufacturing facilities. In these situations, it’s common to continually hear all sorts of loud noises.
3. Lower TV and Radio Volume
   
   Not all causes of hearing impairment occur while you’re at work. Statistics show that 15% of people between the ages of 20 and 69 have hearing loss due to being exposed to excessively loud noises. Many people can unintentionally damage their hearing while watching television or listening to a song. One study found that as many as 1.1 billion young adults risk hearing loss from listening to audio that is too loud. It’s never recommended to listen to music with volume controls at 100%. Instead, try turning the music down all the way and slowly turning up the volume. Also, take breaks in between long amounts of listening to music as this gives your ears a rest.
4. Decrease the Volume of Your Phone
   
   Many people can listen to movies or music at low volumes. However, they often make the mistake of not adjusting the volume on their phones. Considering how close your phone is to your ears, this can often be a cause of hearing damage. You might find that an iPhone hearing aid is a safer way to clearly hear conversations. In addition, iPhone hearing aids are made to work with a wide variety of these mobile devices.
5. Reduce Your Stress Levels
   
   You’ve likely felt the bizarre feeling of tinnitus. It’s the proper name given to the sensation felt when your ears are ringing. What isn’t as commonly known is that tinnitus can be linked to excessive stress. While the body is used to being under stress from time to time, it doesn’t like continually being stressed. Unfortunately, stress also affects your hearing. You might try taking up yoga or mediation in an attempt to reduce stress levels in your life. You’ll likely find that getting to the source of your stress might cure your tinnitus.

In conclusion, there are several ways to protect yourself from hearing loss. If you’re having a hard time hearing, considering having a hearing test performed. In turn, this will help you find out if you need a hearing aid device. Statistics show that nearly 10 million people throughout the United States use some type of hearing aid. While the first hearing aid was amazingly invented in 1898, these devices have certainly come a long way. There are even iPhone hearing aids that can drastically improve you ability to easily communicate on the phone. In addition, iPhone hearing aids are made to work with a wide variety of iPhone models.