The last year or so has been an extraordinarily challenging time for everyone with the COVID-19 outbreak. Although restrictions are beginning to ease, and we are all starting to look forward to an enjoyable Summer here in Ireland, there may still be difficult times ahead, particularly for those with hearing loss.
It is important to continue to maintain your hearing health at this time, and in this blog, we are going to take you through a helpful guide to help you achieve this. Remember, a hearing loss makes it more difficult to hear and communicate with others, however, it also has other health implications also such as Alzheimer’s or dementia, anxiety issues, loneliness as well as depression.
The following is our guide to help maintain your hearing health during the COVID-19 pandemic:
STAY CONNECTED
We may be well used to social distancing at this stage but avoid the feeling of isolation by keeping in regular contact with friends, family and loved ones. We would advise communicating with people several times a day, to make sure you keep spirits high and put things in perspective. If you’ve got friends or family you haven’t spoken to in a while and well overdue a catch-up, there’s no time like the present. We have more methods of staying in touch now than ever before with phone calls, video calls, messaging apps, social media, email and more! If you haven’t tried video calling before, maybe now is the perfect opportunity to learn. It’s an excellent way of staying connected with loved ones at this time.
TAKE INVENTORY AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN
Benjamin franklin once said: “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. With everything taking longer at the moment due to the pandemic and restrictions as well as the possibilities of needing to quarantine, lockdowns and dozens of other possibilities, we think all those with hearing aids and hearing solutions should take inventory and have a back up plan in place. What we mean by this, is you should check to make sure you have back up batteries, domes and filters to ensure your devices are kept functioning properly in the event of an issue arising. The last thing you need right now is to go without your hearing device for any length of time. Here at Audiology Medical Services, we can post you batteries, filters and domes. Hearing Aid repairs can be posted to us and returned to you by mail also. Some people also like to have a backup hearing device to get by in the event when your normal hearing aids are not operating correctly, which is definitely a good backup plan.
SIMPLE EXERCISES
A short workout or some simple exercises is guaranteed to make you feel better and also good for your hearing health. We release endorphins while we exercise which is scientifically proven to release positive feelings in to our body’s and make us feel better. We also pump blood throughout our body when we exercise, and that includes to your ears keeping the internal parts of your ears nice and healthy. We don’t need to run a marathon to exercise, why not try to do a short work out a couple of times a day. Even getting outside to the back garden for some fresh air will already make you feel better. If possible, going for a walk is a great option to get out of the house and to get some fresh air. Just make sure to always maintain social distancing with others. If it’s not possible to go outdoors, yoga or Pilates are a great alternative without the need for equipment. There are lots of beginner videos on YouTube to help and show you the ropes.
KEEPING EARS AND HEARING AIDS CLEAN
You should always keep both your ears and hearing aids clean in order to maximise hearing ability and minimise hearing loss. Excess ear wax can muffle the sound entering the ear, preventing you from hearing clearly. To keep your ears clean we would recommend using a soft, damp cloth or asking us about our Microsuction Ear Wax Removal. Do not put cotton buds, hopi candles, sticks, oils or any home remedies in your ear. Other recommendations we would have for keeping your ears clean are to never swim or wash in dirty water and never share earphones or ear plugs with others. In relation to keeping your hearing aids clean, we recommend referring to your owner’s manual or contact your audiologist to find out how best to clean your specific hearing aids.
HEALTHY EATING
Did you know eating healthily can have a positive impact on your ear health? Consuming the right vitamins, minerals and nutrients in a healthy diet all contribute to your long-term ear health. Combined with exercise, a healthy diet fuels the high metabolic demands of the ear with energy and oxygen and help maintain your hearing health.
CONTACT YOUR AUDIOLOGIST
Audiology is deemed an essential service so can remain open at this time for essential appointments. If you experience any changes or issues with your hearing, get in contact with your audiologist straight away. Do not let COVID-19 delay you treating the issue or getting it investigated. Here at Audiology Medical Services, the health and safety of our clients and staff is of utmost importance. While we’re looking after your ears, we’re looking after your safety too. Be safe in the knowledge of knowing that we are following all government guidelines and have implemented COVID-19 protocols in our clinics to ensure the safety of both our clients and our staff. If you are having an issue with your ears or hearing freephone us on 1800 501 501 to speak to our audiology team. Following an assessment over the phone we can book you in for any essential appointment.
HOW WE CAN HELP
We hope this guide will help you and your hearing health going forward. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved ones hearing, we are here to help you through this challenging process. To make an appointment to talk to one of Audiology Medical Services’ clinically trained professional audiologists, available at clinics nationwide, freephone 1800 501 501.
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