Here And Now

As the seasons change, so do our routines. Autumn brings cooler temperatures, darker evenings, more time indoors and plenty of opportunities to catch up with friends and family. It is also a good time to think about how you’re looking after your hearing.

From protecting your ears from the elements to making sure you can comfortably follow conversations at crowded seasonal events, a few simple changes to your everyday habits can help you get the most from your hearing throughout the season.

Protect Your Ears From the Cold

Cold and windy weather can make your ears feel uncomfortable, particularly if you’re spending more time outdoors. Keeping your ears warm with a hat, earmuffs or other suitable covering can help protect them from the elements.

If you wear hearing aids, it’s also important to keep them protected from moisture and avoid exposing them to sudden changes in temperature wherever possible.
 

Be Mindful of Moisture

Autumn weather can be unpredictable, with rain and damp conditions becoming more common. Moisture can be problematic for hearing aids, so take care when you’re out in wet weather.

If your hearing aids do get damp, remove them when you’re somewhere safe and dry them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using direct heat, such as a hairdryer as this can damage the devices.

Keep an Eye on Your Hearing Aid Batteries

Cooler temperatures can affect battery performance, so it is worth making sure you have spare batteries or that your rechargeable hearing aids are fully charged before heading out.

If you rely on your hearing aids throughout the day, keeping a simple charging routine can help you avoid being caught without them.
 

Make Conversations Easier Indoors

As the evenings get darker and the weather becomes colder, we often spend  more time indoors. Family meals, evenings with friends and gatherings can all be enjoyable, but busy environments can make conversations more difficult if you have hearing loss.

Try to position yourself where you can clearly see the people you’re talking to, reduce unnecessary background noise where possible and make sure rooms are well lit so you can see facial expressions and lip movements.

If you regularly find yourself struggling to follow conversations, it could be a sign that your hearing has declined.

Give Your Ears a Break From Loud Noises

Autumn can mean more time indoors with televisions, music and other entertainment. It is easy to turn the volume up, particularly if you’re finding sounds harder to hear.

Try to keep the volume at a comfortable level and give your ears regular breaks from prolonged noise. If you’re attending a concert, event or another particularly loud environment, consider using suitable hearing protection.

Use the Change of Season as a Reminder to Check Your Hearing

There is no need to wait until hearing loss starts to affect your daily life before taking action. If you’ve noticed that conversations are becoming harder to follow, you’re asking people to repeat themselves more often, or you’re regularly increasing the TV volume, it may be time for a hearing assessment.

At The Ear Place, our experienced audiologists take the time to understand your hearing and how it affects your everyday life. From comprehensive hearing assessments to hearing aids, hearing protection, and aftercare, we are here to help you look after your ears throughout every season.

Book a hearing assessment online or call your local The Ear Place practice.