Cellphones
Cellphones are cochlea killing culprits. Even though they have been cleared of causing tissue damage or brain cancer, they can cause high frequency hearing loss.
A study by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, found that ear warmth, ear fullness and ringing in the ears are early symptoms. Dr Naresh Panda and fellow researchers in India re-inforced these findings with a study of a hundred cell users, and concluded that four years of heavy usage (an hour a day) diminished the users’ ability to hear high frequencies, making it hard for them to distinguish between certain sounds.
The cause? Electromagnetic waves emitted by handsets. ‘This radiation can affect your inner-ear mechanics over time,’ says Panda, who suggests always using a headset to move the cellphone away from your ear.
Sound solutions
Dial down the volume of your phone, activate vibrate mode and cut down on the time you hold the phone to your ear.
Drop the smoking and cut back on the booze. Add some green, leafy vegetables to your eating plan.
Genetics and disease
Sadly, there are a number of genetic factors that can affect hearing loss. Below is a pared down list of some common ones. If you’ve been affected by any, or need clarification, contact an ENT specialist.
Save your Hearing
Mute the commercials while watching TV. When you hit the volume button again after the ads, you’ll be surprised how loud it is and turn it down.