As we get ready to say hello to 2022, many of us are starting to make resolutions for the new year. With some of the most common being healthier and showing up at the gym more often, these shouldn't be your only health resolution. Rather, taking care of your hearing health is also a necessary resolution for this upcoming year to ensure your overall well-being and happiness.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

As the years go by, it's more important than ever before to continue to step out of your comfort zone. When you do so, you naturally gain the confidence to become your own advocate. When you have this personal asset, you're more likely to ask for assistance when it comes to your hearing needs rather than shy away.

Taking Good Care of Your Health

The most crucial investment you'll make throughout your lifetime is your health. The healthier you are, the better your hearing will be. When you take care of your body and mind, it can keep your ears healthy. Being healthy means exercising more often, eating wholesome foods, and keeping your stress levels low.

Quit Smoking Cigarettes

If you smoke regularly or casually, it's time to ditch the cigarettes and cigars. Cigarette smoking has been proven to be harmful to your overall health, especially your hearing. Many people don't realize the effect that cigarette smoking has on your ability to hear. A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association has revealed that the ototoxic chemicals found inside cigarettes increase a person's risk of hearing loss. In fact, 70% of smokers are more likely to experience hearing loss than non-smokers.

Be Aware of Noise Levels in Your Surroundings

An excellent resolution for the new year to ensure that your hearing stays in good condition is to be more mindful of your surrounding noises. Anytime you're going somewhere where the noise level is going to be high, you should think about protecting your ears. These include events like basketball games, concerts, or even mowing the lawn. A simple set of earplugs or earmuffs can help to reduce the high decibel sounds to a safer level.

Get Your Hearing Tested

One of the best things you can do for your hearing health this year is to get your hearing tested when you notice a problem. It's very common for people to slowly lose the ability to hear over time. Identifying the problem early on and fixing it with hearing aids has been shown to drastically reduce a person's risk of mental health diseases like dementia.

Wear Your Hearing Aids More Often

If you have already have prescribed hearing aids, it's imperative that you wear them as much as possible. If you've been putting off wearing them, it's time to change this habit. While hearing aids can be hard to get used to at first, they will become second nature after just a few days. The more consistent you are with wearing your hearing aids, the easier it will be to communicate with the world around you.

Explore New Hearing Aid Technologies

As with most types of technology, it gets better as the years go by. If you're still stuck with hearing aids that are 5 or 10 years old, you should consider upgrading to a new pair. Beltone's latest hearing aid technologies can allow you to alter your settings from the convenience of your smartphone. You can also enjoy taking phone calls directly to your hearing aids and streaming live music to them.

Schedule a Free Hearing Exam Today!

If you believe that you can't hear like you used to, it's time to consider scheduling a free hearing exam at our facility. Call our office today to get a free hearing evaluation and recommendations on the best course of treatment for your hearing condition.