Hearing loss is irreversible
While there are things you can do to prevent the severity of age-related hearing loss and ways to treat hearing loss when it happens, there is no way, yet, to reverse hearing loss.
Most of us will experience hearing loss as we age. In the United States, about a third of people aged 65 to 74 have some hearing loss, and almost half of people over the age of 75 have hearing loss. It seems inevitable, but there are some things you can do to lessen the risk of hearing loss.
How to Lessen the Risk of Hearing Loss
Many of the things you do to protect your overall health and wellness apply to protecting your hearing, as well. Although halting the aging process isn’t possible, lessening the risk of developing severe hearing loss is. Follow the tips below to protect your hearing:
Avoid Loud Noises: This might seem obvious, but the noises that can negatively impact your hearing are probably not as loud as you think they would be. Any noise over 85 decibels can do long-term damage to your hearing over time. An example of this type of noise would be pushing a lawnmower or attending a concert.
Watch Over Your Blood Pressure & Cardiac Health: Surprisingly, high blood pressure and heart disease can damage the intricate mechanisms inside your ears. Good circulation is important to overall health, including hearing. Poor circulation can result in hearing loss.
Get Plenty of Exercise: Exercise is great for almost anything! As mentioned above, blow flow and circulation are key to healthy hearing. Exercise improves blood flow and also reduces stress, which can also negatively affect hearing. Just be sure not to listen to your music too loud while you work out.
Eat a Healthy Diet: A healthy diet affects your entire well-being, including your hearing. Vitamins B12, potassium, and magnesium all contribute positively to ear and hearing health. Having an iron deficiency can also make you more prone to hearing loss, so try to incorporate iron into your diet, as well.
Prioritize Ear Health: Ear hygiene is important to protect your hearing. Use nothing smaller than the size of a washcloth or your finger to clean your ears. No cotton swabs, bobby pins, or sharp pointed objects should ever be used in your ears. Remember that earwax is your body’s natural way of keeping your ear clean. If you have a build-up of wax, see your doctor for help removing it, do not try to remove it by yourself.
Know Your Family History: Knowing if your family history includes hearing loss will not prevent you from having it, but it will help you know if you have a greater risk of developing it. Diagnosing hearing loss early can save you from experiencing the negative effects of hearing loss like isolation, cognitive decline, or depression.
Limit Smoking, Vaping, and Alcohol Consumption: Studies have shown that exposure to cigarette smoke is damaging to hearing. A recent study showed the links between smoking and hearing loss. The effects of vaping on hearing loss are still being studied, however, there is evidence to prove that vaping is not good for your health. The excessive use of alcohol can also damage the auditory cortex in your brain, which will affect how you hear.
Schedule a Hearing Test: A hearing test should be part of your regular healthcare routine, just like an eye exam or visiting the dentist. If a hearing test determines you have slight hearing loss, you can take action to prevent it from getting worse. Scheduling a hearing test through Beltone Tristate is very easy — just visit the website and follow the instructions.
Hearing Aid Options for Treating Hearing Loss
If you’ve been diagnosed with hearing loss, there are a number of options available to treat your condition and help reconnect you to the world around you. Beltone offers several different styles of hearing aids that fall into three different categories, including:
Receiver-in-Ear (RIE): The most popular style, virtually invisible, features a tiny casing that hides behind your ear and connects via a miniature transparent tube to a tiny component in your ear canal.
Custom Hearing Aids: Custom hearing aids include some of the smallest styles available — Invisible-in-Canal (IIC), Completely-in-Canal (CIC), In-the-Canal (ITC), In-the-Ear (ITE), and Mic-in-Helix (MIH). They are custom-made to fit your ear anatomy for the best comfort and sound quality.
Behind-the-Ear (BTE): Small, easy to wear all day, and budget-friendly, BTE matches your hair and complexion and is easily hidden. They help the entire spectrum of hearing loss, from mild to severe.
When determining which type of hearing aid will fit your lifestyle best, you should consider:
- Your degree of hearing loss: Behind-the-ear and in-the-ear hearing aids are best for those with severe hearing loss, whereas custom hearing aids that are worn in the ear canal are preferred for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.
- Your lifestyle and interests: Do you enjoy going to the movies? Walking outdoors? Attending sporting events? You can choose hearing aids that block out the wind, eliminate background noise, or stream sound directly into your hearing device.
- Your personal preferences: Some people want their hearing aid to go unseen, while others prioritize comfort. Whatever your preference is, there is a hearing aid for you.
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Hearing loss can be bothersome and isolating, but there are many ways to treat hearing loss through the use of hearing aids. Don’t let hearing loss keep you away from living your life to the fullest. Contact Beltone Tristate today to schedule a hearing test!