As the season of spring cleaning approaches, it’s an ideal time to focus on the parts of our lives that need organizing or refreshing. This period is about decluttering physical spaces like your home and paying attention to your health, including hearing health. If you are experiencing hearing loss, or if you want to make sure you’re taking good care of your hearing health, take a look at a few key audiology tasks to incorporate into your spring-cleaning plans.
Schedule a Hearing Check-Up
Consider making an appointment for a hearing evaluation. Hearing loss can often creep up without us noticing, making it easy to overlook. A few symptoms to keep an eye out for include:
- Needing to turn the TV up higher than usual
- Trouble understanding speech in noisy environments
- Turning your head to hear with your “good ear”
Approximately 15% of U.S. adults have some degree of hearing loss. A hearing test is a crucial step in detecting any issues early on. If you already know you have hearing loss, remember that it’s a condition that can change over time. Regular check-ups allow your healthcare provider to monitor these changes and adjust your care plan as needed, ensuring your hearing aids or other treatment methods remain effective.
Give Your Hearing Aids a Refresh
For those who use hearing aids, spring cleaning is a perfect reminder to give these devices the attention they need. Regular maintenance of hearing aids is essential for effective performance, but it’s easy to let this task slide.
Take this time to clean your aids thoroughly, following the manufacturer’s instructions or consulting with a specialist if you’re unsure. This process typically involves the following steps:
- Grab the right cleaning tools for your device. These will likely include a wax pick and brush.
- Use the pick and brush to clear wax away from any openings in your devices.
- Remove the battery and brush the inside of the battery compartment, clearing out any dirt that may have accumulated.
- Wipe down the outside of your device with a provider-approved cloth.
In addition to following these four steps, take your devices to a hearing aid specialist one to two times a year for a professional cleaning.
Incorporating these audiology-focused tasks into your spring-cleaning routine can significantly benefit your hearing health. Regular check-ups and proper care of your hearing aids are all excellent steps toward ensuring you enjoy the best possible hearing experience. To learn more about taking care of your hearing health, contact Austin Auditory Specialists today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.