Your ears play a vital role in connecting you to the world through sound and balance. However, like many aspects of our health, hearing can decline as we age. The good news? With a little care and attention, you can protect your ears and maintain good hearing for years to come. Here’s a guide to keeping your ears healthy as you
Why Hearing Health Matters
Hearing is more than just a sense—it’s integral to communication, relationships, and safety. Poor hearing can lead to:
- Social isolation.
- Cognitive decline due to reduced auditory stimulation.
- Difficulty detecting warnings or hazards.
Taking proactive steps to preserve your hearing is essential for overall well-being and quality of life.
Tips for Maintaining Ear Health
- Protect Against Noise Damage
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds is a leading cause of hearing loss. - Use ear protection: Wear earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones in noisy environments, like concerts or when using power tools.
- Follow the 60/60 rule: Keep the volume on headphones below 60% and limit usage to under 60 minutes at a time.
- Keep Ears Clean but Safe
- Avoid cotton swabs: These can push wax deeper into the ear canal and cause damage.
- Clean ears gently: Use a damp cloth for the outer ear and let the ear's natural cleaning process handle the rest.
- See a professional for wax buildup: If you experience discomfort or reduced hearing due to wax, consult a doctor for safe removal.
- Stay Healthy for Better Hearing
Your overall health affects your hearing too. - Exercise regularly: Good circulation supports the tiny hair cells in your inner ear, which are vital for hearing.
- Eat a hearing-friendly diet: Foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and vitamins like B12 and magnesium can protect against hearing loss.
- Manage chronic conditions: Diabetes and hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the ear, leading to hearing issues.
- Limit Exposure to Ototoxic Substances
Some medications and chemicals can harm your hearing. - Review medications: Check with your doctor if any prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs you use are ototoxic.
- Avoid harmful chemicals: Prolonged exposure to solvents, pesticides, or heavy metals can also damage hearing.
- Get Regular Hearing Checkups
Just as you schedule eye exams or dental checkups, hearing tests are essential, especially as you age. - Baseline test: Consider getting a hearing test in your 40s or 50s to establish a baseline.
- Annual screenings: If you’re over 60 or notice changes in your hearing, regular checkups can catch issues early.
Stay Healthy for Better Hearing
Your overall health affects your hearing too.
-
- Exercise regularly: Good circulation supports the tiny hair cells in your inner ear, which are vital for hearing.
- Eat a hearing-friendly diet: Foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and vitamins like B12 and magnesium can protect against hearing loss.
- Manage chronic conditions: Diabetes and hypertension can damage the blood vessels in the ear, leading to hearing issues.
- Limit Exposure to Ototoxic Substances
Some medications and chemicals can harm your hearing.- Review medications: Check with your doctor if any prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs you use are ototoxic.
- Avoid harmful chemicals: Prolonged exposure to solvents, pesticides, or heavy metals can also damage hearing.
- Get Regular Hearing Checkups
Just as you schedule eye exams or dental checkups, hearing tests are essential, especially as you age.- Baseline test: Consider getting a hearing test in your 40s or 50s to establish a baseline.
- Annual screenings: If you’re over 60 or notice changes in your hearing, regular checkups can catch issues early.
Signs of Hearing Loss to Watch For
- Struggling to follow conversations in noisy settings.
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves.
- Turning up the TV or radio volume higher than usual.
- Ringing, buzzing, or other noises (tinnitus).
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds, like children’s voices or birdsong.
If you notice any of these signs, consult an audiologist promptly.=
The Role of Hearing Aids and Assistive Devices
Modern hearing aids are discreet, powerful, and customisable. If you experience hearing loss:
- Don’t delay treatment: Early use of hearing aids can preserve brain function and prevent further decline.
- Explore options: Assistive devices like amplified phones or captioning services can also help.