How to Promote Hearing Health as You Age

Prioritizing our hearing health is so important as we age because it allows seniors to:

• Be aware of surroundings and stay safe
• Engage in social interactions
• Maintain balance and avoid falls
• Stay sharp and reduce cognitive decline

The Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss in Older Adults

There are many good reasons to focus on hearing wellness:

• Enhanced Joy: Great hearing allows us to enjoy the sounds we love, like music, nature’s noises, and the comforting voices of others.
• Improved Independence: We can understand our surroundings and advocate for ourselves better without the assistance of others when our hearing is strong.
• Lowered Risk of Dementia: Hearing keeps our brains active, helping to reduce cognitive decline and the risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
• Reduced Falls: Within the inner ear is the vestibular system, which detects movement and supports balance. Protecting our hearing health to maintain good balance is a form of fall prevention.
• Reduced Isolation: Good hearing allows us to engage in conversation with others, helping us to make connections and fight social isolation.

“The idea here is for you to become part of the community. If you’re isolated, your brain doesn’t work enough to sustain you. Your mind works better and you live longer when you’re talking with people and looking forward to things.”

-Rosalie, Twin Lakes resident

Follow these tips to improve your hearing health and independence.

1. Know What Affects Our Hearing

As the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders statistics indicate, the percentage of adults with disabling hearing loss doubles every ten years after the age of 45. It’s important to know what can cause hearing loss in older adults:

• Ear infections from bacteria, brain injury, heart conditions, strokes, or tumors
• Earwax or fluid buildup
• Genetic conditions that may not show up until later years, such as otosclerosis
• Health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
• Loud noises like lawnmowers, loud music, or snowblowers
• Medications, including antibiotics and aspirin, that are regularly taken
• Ruptured eardrum from pressure or putting things like cotton swabs in the ear

2. Improve Your Lifestyle and Nutrition for Better Hearing

Establishing an active daily routine that knocks out bad habits and forms healthy practices is a great start to overall wellness, including hearing health:

• Consult your doctor about taking  vitamins or supplements like zinc, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, B, C, and E.
• Enjoy hearing-healthy foods like bananas, broccoli, dark chocolate, fish, garlic, leafy greens, legumes, and whole grains.
• Exercise and stay active regularly to improve blood flow to the ears.
• Practice good sleeping habits to give your body a rest.
• Quit or reduce smoking and exposure to smoke.
• Reduce stress to decrease the risk of conditions like tinnitus.
• Stay hydrated to improve the fluid balance in the ears.

3. Clean Your Ears

There are right and wrong ways to clean your ears, so keep these tips in mind:

• Avoid using cotton swabs, as they can push wax deeper into the ear canal.
• Keep your ears thoroughly dry after showering or swimming to avoid infection.
• Use a damp cloth to clean the outer ear.
• Visit a professional for ear-cleaning services, such as an audiologist or ENT specialist.

4. Wear Ear Protection

When you lead an active lifestyle that includes recreational activities or loud spaces, you’ll want to wear appropriate earbuds, earplugs, or headphones, especially for:

• Airports, bus stops, or train stations
• Autoracing, concerts, games, and performances
• Construction sites
• Loud or noisy restaurants
• Power tools for things like lawn mowing, leaf blowing, and snow blowing
• Recreational activities like hunting and swimming

5. Monitor the Volume to Prevent Hearing Loss as You Age

Follow these tips to help monitor the volume where and when you can control it:

• Give your ears a break with the 60-60 rule by listening to no more than 60% of the volume for more than 60 minutes a day.
• Set a volume maximum limit in the television settings and activate a “night mode” for the evening to reduce loud noises and enhance soft noises.
• Turn on closed captioning.
• Use personal amplification devices, such as hearing aids, portable speakers, soundbars, and wireless headphones.

6. Visit Your Doctor About Your Hearing Health

The best thing to do is consult your physician about good ear health practices and get a comprehensive hearing exam to ensure you take the right next steps. Now’s the perfect time to schedule an appointment if you experience:

• Difficulty following conversations
• Difficulty hearing through loud or high-pitched noises
• Fatigue from increased effort to listen and communicate
• Isolation or withdrawal from social experiences
• Needing others to repeat themselves or speak more clearly
• Tinnitus or ringing and buzzing in the ears
• Turning the volume up for everything

Discover the path to a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle with our free ebook, The Way of Wellness!

At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.