Even if you’re already experiencing some degree of hearing loss, there are still precautions you can take to prevent it from getting worse. Here are five things you can do every day to protect your hearing: 

Avoid overexposure to loud appliances 

It shouldn’t be news to you that being around loud noises, particularly for long periods of time, can be dangerous for your hearing. Limit the time you spend around things like lawnmowers, leaf blowers, power tools, and even household items like blenders or vacuum cleaners.  

Proper ear protection can help keep your ears safe by knocking down the intensity of the sounds reaching your eardrums. Over-ear earmuffs or earplugs are great options, and even some well-fitted, deep-fit headphones can help block out potentially harmful sounds. 

Turn down the volume on headphones 

Personal headphones let you enjoy your music without disturbing those around you, but they also carry some risk. When you crank up the volume, some headphones can reach as high as 110dB, which is well within the range that can cause hearing loss. 

This is especially important if you’re already in a noisy environment or working with loud equipment or tools — headphones that fit properly and form a tight seal may block out some noise, but turning up the volume to drown out external noises increases the threat of noise-induced hearing loss dramatically. 

Protect your ears from infection 

Ear infections can lead to permanent damage to sensitive parts of your inner ears, which, in turn, can lead to hearing loss. Luckily, as an adult, you’re already less likely to develop an ear infection. However, there are still steps you can take to reduce your chances even further 

A good way to start is by maintaining an ear-healthy, immune-boosting diet. You might also cut down on smoking, as it reduces blood flow, which limits the oxygen and nutrients that reach the inner ear. 

Another important practice is to avoid exposing your inner ears to too much cold weather or moisture. During cold or wet weather, be sure to cover your ears with proper headgear. You might even consider wearing earplugs when swimming or bathing and be sure to thoroughly dry your ears if they do get wet. 

Stop using cotton swabs to clean your ears 

If you’ve ever stopped to look at a box of cotton swabs, it probably says right there not to use them to clean your ears. Yet many think of this as more of a suggestion, or a way for the manufacturer to avoid legal liability.  

The fact is you don’t need to clean the earwax out of your ears because they take care of it themselves. 

Believe it or not, your body generates earwax for a reason. Its slight oiliness protects the inner ear skin from excessive moisture buildup, and its acidity fights germs and fungus. As you talk or chew food, the motion of your jaw naturally moves earwax out and away from your inner ear, collecting dirt and dead skin cells along the way, another way earwax helps keep your ears healthy. 

If you do get a serious blockage, the best solution is to talk to your doctor. Most primary care physicians have specialized equipment for gently flushing out ear canals with minimal risk of injury. 

Watch out for ototoxic medications 

Before you start taking any new medication, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the common or possible side effects. For certain medications, that can include temporary or permanent hearing loss. This is called “ototoxicity.” 

Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or “NSAIDs” (including aspirin), some antibiotics, long-term hormone therapy, certain antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, blood pressure medication, and even some allergy medications are all potentially ototoxic — though that is not a guarantee that every drug in any of these categories will impact your hearing. 

If you do start a new medication and notice a change in your hearing, the first thing to do is talk to your doctor. They will advise whether to continue taking the medication and may be able to offer alternatives that do not affect your hearing.