Unexpected causes of hearing loss may startle you.
Unexpected causes of hearing loss may startle you. After all, we are all familiar with the most typical causes – aging, birth defects, and overexposure to loud noises over a long period of time. But there are more surprising causes of hearing loss hiding in our everyday activities. So, in this blog, we’ll shed some light on the unexpected causes of hearing loss.
The Unexpected Causes of Hearing Loss Include
- Health Conditions: People with diabetes tend to experience hearing loss more commonly, as high as twice as likely. Other health problems can lead to damage to the ear. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can hamper blood and oxygen flow to the ears. Fevers, possibly caused by an ear infection, can eventually lead to nerve damage. This nerve damage results from inflammation and lack of blood and oxygen reaching the ears.
- Treatments for Health Conditions: Treatments for health conditions can present problems, too. Unfortunately, foregoing an annual checkup on your ear health can be risky for your ear health. Have blockages examined and treated by a professional – attempting to unblock an ear blockage yourself could cause further damage to your ears. Prescriptions for drugs meant to treat other health conditions could potentially cause minor hearing loss as a temporary side effect. Aspirin and ibuprofen are drugs could also worsen conditions such as tinnitus.
They Also Include
- Everyday Sounds: Believe it or not, average everyday sounds could cause hearing loss as well. Hair dryers might not be loud, but they are another one of the unexpected causes of hearing loss. Hair dryers can put out as much as 85 decibels of sound. While this might not seem like a lot, doing it every day can accumulate the damage.
- Also, if you need to commute by some form of public transportation, make sure you have some ear protection. Buses, trains, and subways are cacophonous with noise, not to mention loud, wailing sirens you might encounter along your way.
- Home Appliances: If you spend most of your time in the kitchen, you should know the effect that the various home appliances can have on your hearing. Blenders and grinders can assault your ears, especially if you need to use them for several hours. Professional cooks and chefs are recommended to use earplugs to help protect their hearing in their kitchens. Also, tools such as jackhammers, drills, and mowers are common in and around the home. Protect your ears when encountering these tools, but use conventional hearing protections – sticking your fingers in your ears could only make things worse!
Hearing Loss Solutions from Clarity Audiology
Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions offers state-of-the-art hearing solutions for any hearing loss you are experiencing. We specialize in diagnosing and treating hearing loss, fitting and programming hearing aids, and helping you hear again. Contact us today to schedule an appointment online or by calling 410-698-6594. To see what we are up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.