Making your way around a pumpkin patch; hot chocolate in hand, navigating a maize maze and trick-or-treating with your children or grandchildren are all parts of fall that we cannot help but love. When the blistering heat of summer is over, the days start to become a little shorter, and the weather a little cooler, we know that fall is on its way.
However, what many people don’t realize is that while fall is a delightful season in many ways, it’s also an excellent time to make our hearing health a priority. It is this change from warmer to cooler weather, along with increased rainfall that can significantly affect our hearing health.
The good news is that you can keep your hearing tip-top this fall, by following the autumn-specific tips from a hearing specialist that you will find below.
Stay on Top of Fall Allergies
Springtime is the season for allergies, right? Well, no, that is not necessarily the case. In fact, fall is also a very common time for allergies to rear their ugly head, especially for those of us who are allergic to the plant ragweed. Ragweed flowers between August and November so not even the changing of the seasons means we can escape it.
The problem with allergies whether they occur in the spring or the fall is that they encourage the increased production and buildup of earwax. In turn, this excess of wax can block up the ears and cause temporary hearing loss. Also, in more serious cases that affect the inner ear, allergies can lead to issues such as Meniere’s Disease, which is a condition where the individual struggles with dizziness and vertigo that can negatively impact quality of life.
Prevent Ear Infections
Colds and flu mean there are viruses and bacteria a-plenty floating around during the fall. Sadly, that means it’s much easier for them to find their way into our ears and cause infection there. The bad news is that repeated ear infections can increase your chances of issues like tinnitus and hearing loss. To that end, if you suspect an infection, it’s best to get treatment for it as soon as possible! Also, if you experience repeat ear infections make sure you see a specialist so they can check your ears for any hearing loss, or other issues that may be occurring.
Wipe Off Your Hearing Aid When You Come in from Cold Weather
If you wear a hearing aid then you might notice that it runs out of battery a lot faster when the weather begins to get colder. This is because the cold impacts the battery life. With that in mind, you’ll want to keep some spare batteries to hand or make sure your aid is properly charged each night. Wiping away any condensation that forms on your hearing aid while in the cold as soon as you get inside can help too.
Check for Wax Build-Up During Colder Months
Your body is a clever thing, and it will do what it can to protect your inner ears from the biting cold of fall. The cooler weather triggers a mechanism whereby your ears harden up the wax inside them, creating a protective barrier. Unfortunately, this easy build-up can cause problems impacting your hearing and even leaving you more vulnerable to tinnitus. Impacts can be easily removed by your hearing specialist in their office, providing you much-needed relief with minimal invasiveness and no discomfort.
Don’t Forget to Protect Your Ears from the Cold Weather
To limit the wax build-up you may experience in the colder months, it’s a good idea to invest in some ear protection. One of the best choices for this is to use ear muffs, as these will fit snugly to your head and prevent the cold air and moisture from getting into your ears, even on the chilliest fall morning. Woolen beanie hats will also work, and the good news is that if you wear hearing aids, muffs or a hat will help protect that too.
Schedule a Hearing Test During the Fall
With so many additional risks to your hearing health present in the fall, it’s a good time to go to your local hearing instrument specialist for a hearing test. Happily, Galco Hearing Aid Service is here to help you with all your hearing queries and needs, whether you’re looking for a hearing test to establish a baseline or want to upgrade your hearing aids. Just call (281) 245-0520 and speak to our knowledgeable and friendly team.
