6 Ways to Protect Your Hearing This Winter

With more than half of the country still covered in snow from last week’s polar vortex, it’s clear Old Man Winter is here to stay for a while. While most of us know to bundle up in sweaters, thick socks, and gloves, we often forget to cover another important body part - our ears. During the winter, cold air can get trapped in your ear canal and cause a number of health problems, like ear infections and vertigo. If you’re heading out into the cold this winter, here are a few things to avoid.

Noise

Heading out to a sports game, concert or just getting the snow blower out? Better grab your ear muffs. Despite being one of the most preventable causes, hearing loss due to noise affects thousands of people every year.

Falling on Ice

Those with hearing loss are three times as likely to suffer a dangerous fall than people without, so make sure your walkway is always shoveled, salted and well lit.

Ear Infections

We all know to be weary of cold and flu season, but do you know about ear infection season? Low humidity and cold temperatures make winter the prime time for ear, nose, and throat infections. But luckily you can kill two birds with one stone by getting the flu shot and washing your hands regularly.

Freezing Temperatures

Grab your earmuffs, hats and scarves, because the temperature is still averaging 30 degrees in the Northeast. Consistent exposure to cold air can cause exostosis, the abnormal formation of new bone on existing bone.

Air Travel

If you’re planning on traveling north, make sure you’re in good health. Even a slight cold can lead to a blockage in the eustachian (auditory) tube, which is responsible for equalizing pressure.

Frozen Hearing Aids

Even if you’re not necessarily bothered by the cold, your technology might be. Before you head outside on a cold day, grab a hat or scarf to cover your hearing aids. The cold will primarily affect the batteries, causing them to cut out and die faster than usual.

At Florida ENT, we are committed to helping patients who suffer from hearing loss at all levels of severity and at any stage. Utilizing the latest advances in medicine and state-of-the-art techniques, our goal is to treat our patients with comfort and compassion. To learn more about the services we provide, call us today at 407-944-3340.