Hearing loss naturally occurs as people get older, but other factors can increase your risk. It’s up to you to protect your ears so you can hear well for as long as possible. The professional audiologists at Russellville Hearing Clinic in Pope County, AR, know that hearing damage is irreversible, so they’ve provided three simple tips for daily protection.

1. Use Earplugs

Loud noises can permanently affect your hearing, and they can be easily reduced with earplugs. Keep a few pairs at home, at work, and in your car so you can always access protection. Use them when working in a loud environment or completing chores such as mowing the lawn. If you find that you wear them often, you can order custom earplugs, which allow easy conversation while blocking out harmful noises.

2. Swab Carefully

Cotton swabs are a useful tool for cleaning your ears, but people tend to use them to clean wax out of the ear canal. The wax inside the canal protects the eardrum from harmful particles, so removal can damage your ear. Use swabs to clean only the exterior part of your ears, and never use them in the canal. Negligent swabbing can also puncture the eardrum, so it is best to pursue other removal methods if you have wax buildup.

3. Stay Dry