Most of us are aware of the more common causes of hearing loss. Ageing, exposure to excessive noise, and blasting music through earphones can all trigger hearing loss, though there are some more surprising causes of hearing loss too. Our ears are incredibly intricate and should be looked after – yet there are many everyday habits that people may not know could be affecting their hearing.
But knowledge is power – and being aware of some of the habits that can damage your hearing is the first step to protecting your hearing health. So, let’s explore some of the more surprising causes of hearing loss, and how you can best avoid them.
1. Missing out on early detection of hearing loss by not getting your ears checked
In the UK, people aged 40 to 74 should be invited to an NHS Health Check every five years – but that may not be frequent enough to detect the early signs of hearing loss. As with routine checks of other body parts like our eyes and teeth, having regular hearing checks can alert us to changes in our hearing health, so that issues can be treated as quickly as possible.
Untreated hearing loss can result in irreversible damage, which can put you at risk of many other physical and mental health conditions.
For example, further research suggests that untreated hearing loss is closely linked to loneliness and social isolation, which in turn is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, anxiety, and dementia. Untreated hearing loss can also increase the risk of falling.
Hearing loss is progressive, so by the time you’ve realised you can’t hear as well as you used to, there’s a good chance you may already benefit from a hearing aid. The most important thing you can do to protect both your ears and your hearing is to get your hearing checked.
2. Using cotton buds
Cleaning your ears with cotton buds may seem more helpful than harmful – but it’s one of the worst things you can do for your ear and hearing health. Cotton buds can push wax further down the ear canal, causing it to become impacted and block ears like a plug. Impacted earwax can cause hearing loss, infection, dizziness, earache, and vertigo.
Cotton buds can also irritate and damage the delicate skin inside the ear canal, trigger the cough reflex, and in the worst case, perforate the eardrum.
If you’re worried about earwax build-up, it’s worth reading this removal guide from the NHS. Selected pharmacies also offer an earwax removal service. Head over to the NHS site to find your nearest pharmacy.
3. Smoking
We all know how bad smoking is for our health; it can lead to cancer, heart disease, lung diseases, stroke, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. But most people aren’t aware that smoking can also harm our hearing.
Smokers and those exposed regularly to smoke are at a higher risk of hearing loss or ear health issues for several reasons. For one, nicotine and carbon monoxide lower oxygen blood levels and constrict blood vessels all over your body – including those in the inner ear that are responsible for how we hear. Nicotine can also interfere with neurotransmitters in the auditory nerve, making you more sensitive to loud noises and, therefore, more susceptible to developing noise-induced hearing loss.
Smoke inhalation can cause blockage or irritation of the eustachian tubes (the tubes that connect the back of your nose and throat to the middle ear), too, causing pressure build-up and hearing loss. Plus, research shows that a higher incidence of tinnitus is reported by smokers.
Even second-hand smoke is harmful and can have the same effect on the ears of the people around you. So, if you smoke and need another reason to quit, protecting your hearing might be it. If you’d like to quit smoking but need some support, the NHS offers stop smoking services.
4. Drinking
Just like smoking, drinking alcohol is another habit that we all know can be harmful – but most of us probably aren’t aware of the link between alcohol consumption and hearing loss. While having the occasional drink isn’t usually a problem, several studies suggest that drinking moderate to high levels of alcohol can damage our hearing.
One study found that heavy drinking over a long period damages the central auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain where sounds are interpreted. High alcohol consumption can lead to shrinkage of this cortex, which increases the time it takes to process sound. This can make it more difficult to distinguish words that are being said and follow the pace of conversation.
5. Motorsports
If you’re a fan of motorsports, you’re probably already aware of just how loud things can get. According to Hear the World Foundation, a safe decibel level – one that’s unlikely to cause any hearing damage if we’re exposed to it, unprotected, for no more than eight hours – is usually under 85 decibels. A normal motorcycle is around 95 decibels, whereas a Formula 1 race produces 147 decibels of sound – which is significantly higher than what’s considered safe.
Exposure to such levels of noise presents a risk of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and can also cause symptoms of tinnitus, which usually involves hearing hissing, buzzing, ringing, or roaring sounds in your ear.
You don’t have to be driving a motorised vehicle to be at risk of hearing loss, either. Simply spectating at a motorsport event can lead to permanent hearing damage. So if you attend these events, it’s important to wear hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs and, if you can, put distance between yourself and the noise. Take time away from loud noises after, too, to allow your ears to recover.
6. Watersports
Many of us have experienced that irritating feeling of having water stuck in our ears after swimming – but hitting the water can lead to more serious problems.
Swimmer’s ear is typically a bacterial infection caused by moisture left in the ear, exposure to contaminated water, or bacteria entering a break in the skin. And while it’s often mild to begin with, if left untreated, it can cause other problems like hearing loss (usually temporary), recurring ear infections, and bone and cartilage damage.
However, swimming isn’t the only watersport that affects hearing. Surfer’s ear is caused by prolonged exposure to cold water or wind and, as the name suggests, most commonly affects surfers – though windsurfers, kayakers, and open-water swimmers can also be at risk.
Surfer’s ear can lead to small abnormal bony growths, which are harmless but can cause issues if they obstruct the ear and stop sound travelling down the ear canal normally. Or, if a person makes a lot of earwax, these bony growths can make it difficult to keep the ears clear of wax.
Thankfully, though, you can easily prevent both swimmer’s ear and surfer’s ear by wearing special earplugs.
7. Turning the volume up
Many of us listen to portable audio devices like smartphones and iPods every day, whether at the gym, while walking, or even when we’re at work or home. But prolonged exposure to loud music can lead to NIHL, so try to stick to the 60/60 rule: listen at no more than 60% volume, for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
Needing to turn things like your TV or personal devices up louder and louder to hear can also be a common indicator that your hearing isn’t as sharp as it once might have been, and that you should get your hearing checked.
8. Going to busy bars and restaurants
While it will surprise a few people to learn that going to loud rock concerts can damage your hearing, other, less obvious venues can also take a toll on your senses. If you’re someone who likes going to busy, buzzing establishments – like popular restaurants, bars, and cafes – it’s worth taking a moment to consider just how noisy these are.
Busy pubs and bars can easily reach over 80 decibels, which can damage hearing if you’re exposed to it, unprotected, over long periods. It can also lead to what’s been called ‘pub deafness’, which describes the phenomenon of having troubling hearing conversations in noisy environments.
While you don’t need to sacrifice your social life to protect your hearing, there are other ways you can avoid doing any damage. For example, why not visit your favourite venues at quieter times of the day or choose a smaller establishment where there are fewer people? If you do find yourself in a busy, noisy venue, simply stepping out every hour or so for a five or 10-minute break can make all the difference.
It can also help to choose venues with plenty of soft furnishings, such as carpets, curtains, and cushions, as these absorb sound – and can, therefore, reduce echo or harsh sounds in a room.
Final thoughts…
The first step to preventing hearing loss is to be aware of the different causes of it, and understand how you can protect yourself. Protecting your hearing involves more than simply avoiding obvious sources of loud noise. It also means becoming mindful of everyday habits that might be having a subtle yet significant effect on your hearing.
From avoiding the use of cotton buds to wearing earplugs while swimming, there are many things you can do to protect your hearing – and several of them will provide other health benefits too.
But the most important thing you can do to protect your hearing is to get your hearing checked. You can get a free hearing test on the NHS, and there are also free online hearing tests you can do. Alternatively, lots of large pharmacies and opticians do hearing tests, and while these are often free, you’ll have to pay for treatment.
Did you find any of these habits that can damage hearing health particularly surprising? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.
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