{"id":8379,"date":"2025-01-03T16:22:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T23:22:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/?p=8379"},"modified":"2025-01-03T16:22:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T23:22:58","slug":"start-the-new-year-right-with-four-hearing-health-resolutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/start-the-new-year-right-with-four-hearing-health-resolutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Start the New Year Right With Four Hearing Health Resolutions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The start of a new year feels like a clean slate. Many see it as an opportunity to get in shape, eat healthier, travel more or maybe save more money. But there\u2019s one important aspect of health that often gets left out of the conversation: hearing. Let\u2019s look at why it\u2019s a good idea to focus on your hearing health and four resolutions to start the year right.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-you-should-care-about-your-hearing\">Why You Should Care About Your Hearing<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1253\" height=\"836\" src=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Happy-man-sitting-on-a-bench-working-on-his-2025-resolutions.jpg\" alt=\"Happy man sitting on a bench working on his 2025 resolutions.\" class=\"wp-image-8382\" style=\"width:468px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Happy-man-sitting-on-a-bench-working-on-his-2025-resolutions.jpg 1253w, https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Happy-man-sitting-on-a-bench-working-on-his-2025-resolutions-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1253px) 100vw, 1253px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Hearing health isn\u2019t just about being able to listen to music or have a conversation. It connects to so many parts of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few reasons hearing loss can affect your life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Poor social connections<\/strong>. Hearing loss can make conversations challenging, leading to withdrawal from social situations and potential feelings of <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8292986\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">loneliness or isolation<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety risks<\/strong>. You rely on your ears for crucial warnings like car horns or fire alarms. When those sounds fade or disappear, safety risks can skyrocket.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Declined quality of life<\/strong>. Hearing helps you enjoy things like music, bubbling water along Santa Cruz River Park and engaging conversations with the people around you. When hearing fades, these previous enjoyments may feel out of reach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mental health takes a hit<\/strong>. Struggling to hear can cause frustration, stress and fatigue. Over time, it can put you at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncoa.org\/article\/can-hearing-loss-affect-mental-health-in-older-adults\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">greater risk for developing mental health disorders like depression and anxiety<\/a>. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2025-resolutions-for-healthy-hearing\">2025 Resolutions for Healthy Hearing<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Small changes can go a long way. Here are some practical resolutions to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-protect-your-ears-from-noise\">1. Protect Your Ears from Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Noise-induced hearing loss is common, affecting approximately <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nidcd.nih.gov\/health\/noise-induced-hearing-loss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">5% of the world\u2019s population<\/a>, but it\u2019s also highly preventable. A few ways to protect yourself against loud noise damage include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones in loud environments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your music or podcasts below 85 dB<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimize headphone usage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-skip-the-cotton-swabs\">2. Skip the Cotton Swabs<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Reaching for a cotton swab to clean your ears might feel like the right move, but it can do more harm than good. Cotton swabs can push earwax deeper, leading to blockages or even a ruptured eardrum. If your ears feel clogged, consider these safer alternatives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use provider-approved earwax drops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you feel a buildup, see a professional for safe earwax removal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-schedule-a-hearing-test\">3. Schedule a Hearing Test<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve never had a <a href=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/hearing-loss\/testing\/\">hearing test<\/a>, now\u2019s the time. Regular check-ups can catch problems early. Schedule a test if you meet any of the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You\u2019re over 50<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve been exposed to loud noises often<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You notice yourself saying, \u201cWhat?\u201d more than usual<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve recently had a traumatic head injury (concussion, car crash, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-explore-hearing-aids\">4. Explore Hearing Aids<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>Today\u2019s hearing aids are light-years ahead of the clunky devices from the past. They\u2019re discreet, comfortable and <a href=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/hearing-aids\/benefits-of-hearing-aids\/\">packed with helpful features<\/a>. If you\u2019re struggling to hear, these tiny but advanced devices could make a world of difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to take the next step? Contact Arizona Hearing Specialists to schedule a hearing test or discuss options for treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/thriving-in-fitness-with-hearing-aids-tips-for-active-lifestyles\/\" class=\"related-post\">Thriving in Fitness With Hearing Aids: Tips for Active Lifestyles<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/how-can-captioning-software-help-you-navigate-hearing-loss\/\" class=\"related-post\">How Can Captioning Software Help You Navigate Hearing Loss?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/why-is-it-crucial-for-childrens-hearing-aids-to-be-correctly-programmed\/\" class=\"related-post\">Why is It Crucial for Children\u2019s\u2019 Hearing Aids to Be Correctly Programmed?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The start of a new year feels like a clean slate. Many see it as an opportunity to get in shape, eat healthier, travel more or maybe save more money. But there\u2019s one important aspect of health that often gets left out of the conversation: hearing. Let\u2019s look at why it\u2019s a good idea to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,7,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hearing-aids-posts","category-hearing-loss-posts","category-hearing-protection-posts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8379","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8383,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8379\/revisions\/8383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}