No matter your age, hearing loss can develop in anyone under the right conditions. There are two different types of hearing loss that a person can be affected by.

Conductive Hearing Loss:

A correctable form of hearing loss where blockages prevent sound signals from reaching the brain.

• Wax On, Wax Off – If it weren’t for earwax, germs, and bacteria would reach the eardrum, causing infections and hearing loss. However, too much earwax can clog your ears and cause hearing problems. Remove earwax from the outer ear via cotton swabs, and in the inner ear by your doctor.
• Infections – The eustachian tube that connects the throat to the ear can become inflamed when a person is sick. When this happens, fluid can build up within the tube, causing an infection. This is something you’ll have to wait out, but seek assistance and medication from a doctor in the meantime.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss:

A permanent form of hearing loss that can sometimes be prevented.

• Packing on the Pounds – Many studies have shown those who have larger waists and a high body fat percentage were more likely to develop hearing loss. It’s possible that the lack of blood flow from obesity is what’s causing the hearing problems. Get off of the couch, go for a run, and clean up that diet of yours!
• Diabetes – Plain and simple, if you have diabetes your risk of hearing loss doubles. It’s important to keep your insulin and glucose levels under control in order to prevent any hearing problems. Those with diabetes should see an audiologist to play it safe.
• High Exposure – Whether you like listening to music in your earbuds or at concerts, both can be potentially bad for your hearing. Music that plays too loud can cause severe damage within just 15 minutes. Keep your personal music player at an appropriate level and wear earplugs if you venture out to a concert.

It can be fairly easy to damage your eardrums and develop hearing problems, so make sure you know how to prevent them from occurring. At The Arbors, our on-site doctors help the residents with all of their hearing and health problems any time of the day. If you’re interested in learning more or visiting The Arbors Assisted Living community, schedule a tour by contacting one of our five convenient locations:

Bohemia
Hauppauge
Islandia East
Islandia West
Westbury