Prepare for winter weather with these healthy hearing tips.
The changing of the seasons is always an exciting time. If you live somewhere where the temperatures drop in fall and winter, these seasons can bring colorful leaves, cozy sweaters, and plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy activities like hiking and ice skating.
As the temperatures start to get cooler, it’s also a time to look out for your hearing health and protect any assistive devices you may use from the cold.
A few ways you can prepare your hearing for winter weather include:
- Breaking out the hats and earmuffs
- Use earplugs during windy weather
- Protecting your hearing aids
- Being mindful of ear infections
- Visiting your audiologist
Read on to learn more about how to protect your hearing in colder weather.
Breaking out the hats and earmuffs
If you plan on spending time outside this fall or winter, bring your hats and earmuffs out of storage ahead of time. Cold-weather ear protection such as fleece ear warmers or a winter hat will keep your ears dry and warm. This protection is important, as repeated or extended exposure to cold weather may damage ears.
Use earplugs during windy weather
To further protect your hearing in colder weather, you can also use earplugs while you’re outside. They can help shield your ears from the cold and wind and reduce any loud noise you may be exposed to, such as the loud noise from a leaf or snow blower or high noise levels at an indoor or outdoor sporting event.
Protecting your hearing aids
If you use hearing aids, it’s essential to take care of them during the winter months, as cold temperatures can shorten the battery life. It’s also easy for moisture to build up within your hearing aids at this time of year. You can get a dehumidifier to remove any excess moisture from your hearing aids and wear a hat, earmuffs, or specially-designed headband to protect them when you’re outside.
Being mindful of ear infections
Ear infections tend to be more common in colder months. Be on the lookout for early symptoms of an infection, such as:
- Ear pain
- Discharge
- Redness
- Ringing in the ears
- Any change in your existing hearing loss
If you experience any symptoms of an infection, be sure to check in with your doctor or audiologist right away and follow their treatment advice.
Visiting your audiologist
To make sure you’re entirely prepared for winter weather, make an appointment with your audiologist for a routine evaluation. They can offer tips on how to protect your hearing in colder weather, check your current hearing health, and give you other advice to protect your hearing year round.
With these tips on preparing your hearing for winter weather, you’ll be ready to get outside and enjoy cooler temps this upcoming season. For more information on how to protect your hearing health, check out more articles on the CapTel blog.
