Four points to keep in mind when reducing noise damage
According to WHO's 2021 World Hearing Report, about 20% of the world's population.
Experts remind that hearing loss seriously affects the quality of life and endangers mental health, which must be taken seriously.
Hearing loss is generally preventable, and through ear and hearing care, you can help maintain good hearing throughout life.
Text/Photo Guangzhou Daily All-Media Reporter Zhang Qingmei Correspondents Hu Yingyi and Sun Bingqian
The hidden dangers of wearing headphones should not be underestimated
Noise is one cause of hearing loss.
Professor Yu Feng, vice president of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital and head of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, introduced that long-term use of headphones by modern people is one of the main causes of hearing loss. Headphones have become a new generation of "hearing killers", and the hidden dangers are not small. :
①If you wear headphones for a long time, the earwax will gradually increase. If you don't pay attention to hygiene, there is a high chance of causing inflammation;
②The ear is in a fatigue state for a long time, and the response will become slow;
③ Wearing headphones to listen to music will distract your attention, and it will be unsafe whether you are driving or walking.
Once you find that you have hearing loss after wearing the headphones and taking them off, you should stop using the headphones immediately.
Hearing generally recovers slowly, but if no attention is paid to it, with prolonged exposure to noise, irreversible hearing loss will occur.
A few things to keep in mind when reducing noise damage
How to reduce noise damage to hearing?
Yu Feng said that the following four points should be kept in mind:
1. The use of headphones follows the "60-60" principle: the time to wear the headphones should not exceed 60 minutes; the volume should not exceed 60% of the total volume; the external sound should not exceed 60 decibels.
At the same time, pay attention to choosing the right earphones. It is best to choose headphones. Headphones have less hearing loss than earplugs.
The earphones are directly plugged into the external auditory canal, and the sound waves stimulate the tympanic membrane, ossicular chain, and auditory nerve more.
Use in-ear earplugs to choose a rubber sleeve that matches the size of the ear. Too big will cause discomfort or inflammation of the ear canal, and too small will not reduce noise.
In addition, don't wear only one side of the headset. If you wear one side, one ear sends sound signals to the brain, which can easily cause us to turn up the volume.
Remember not to wear headphones to sleep at night, and don't wear headphones for a long time unless necessary.
2. As far as possible away from or reduce exposure to KTV, discos and other noise environments.
3. Wear noise-proof earplugs or earmuffs when working with high-intensity noise or exposed to high-intensity noise for a long time.
4. Practitioners in the noise industry regularly check their hearing. Hearing loss caused by noise is usually slow and difficult to detect in the early stage.
Tinnitus should be treated in time
Many people have tinnitus. The pathogenesis of tinnitus is still unclear, but clinical findings are related to noise, vascular disease, middle ear blockage or Eustachian tube dysfunction, head and neck trauma, etc. Some people smoke, drink, drink The symptoms of tinnitus can be aggravated by caffeinated beverages, after eating certain foods, or when you are stressed or fatigued.
Yu Feng suggested that tinnitus is not a trivial matter. If you find tinnitus, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately.
At present, there are many ways to treat tinnitus, including masking therapy, music therapy, adsorption therapy, drug therapy, etc., and some require surgery, such as otosclerosis.
Ear and Hearing Health Tips
avoid noise
Avoiding or reducing noise interference as much as possible is the first and foremost one to protect hearing.
Quit digging
Frequently use ear spoons and matchsticks to pluck your ears, it is easy to bruise the ear canal, cause infection, inflammation, and may damage the eardrum.
Use with caution
Try to avoid the use of ototoxic drugs, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, kanamycin, neomycin, etc., if necessary, follow the doctor's advice.
Use headphones reasonably (follow the "60-60" principle).
Regular work and rest, to maintain a happy mood.
massage often
Massage the Yifeng point (in the depression between the earlobe and the high bone behind the ear) and Tinghui point (in the front and below the tragus, in the depression on the posterior edge of the mandibular joint) before and after the earlobe, can increase the blood circulation of the inner ear, Has the effect of protecting hearing.