As we grow older, it’s normal for our cells and body systems to deteriorate, with hearing loss being a prominent example. Hearing loss is a natural part of aging; in fact, age-related hearing loss is called presbycusis, and it affects a large majority—approximately 65.3%—of adults age 71 and older, with prevalence rising with every decade of life.1
Presbycusis is largely unavoidable, but other types of hearing loss are more preventable. As you age and presbycusis becomes a larger part of your life, it’s wise to take measures against other types of hearing loss in order to preserve your residual hearing. Let’s discuss how.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
As the name suggests, noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL, is hearing loss that results from exposure to loud noise. Loud noises generate powerful sound waves, which have enough force to injure or break the delicate sensory cells in our inner ear that are critical to hearing. As much as we love Southern California, we know better than anyone how noisy the City of Angels can get.
Any noise above 85 dB can be damaging to hearing if exposed to it long enough. The louder the sound, the shorter the time it takes for it to cause NIHL. Here are some tips for preventing NIHL:
- Download a sound-measuring app on your smartphone and get into the habit of checking it. It’s easy for ambient noise—traffic, crowds, music—to reach 85 dB without you even realizing it.
- Don’t turn the volume up too high when listening to music or watching TV, especially if you’re listening through headphones. Follow the 60-60 rule: listen at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes.
- Take regular breaks when you’re in noisy situations. Continuous exposure to loud noise is dangerous, but a five-minute break every hour or so can help mitigate the damage.
- Wear hearing protection if you’re planning on being somewhere or doing something loud, like going to a concert or using power tools. Earplugs are easy to find and highly effective.
Conductive Hearing Loss
Conductive hearing loss is any hearing loss that is caused by issues in the outer or middle ear. This is often caused by an obstruction, infection or structural issue within the ear. Take good care of your ear health in order to prevent conductive hearing loss. Some examples include:
- Never clean your ears with a cotton swab, as that can push earwax deeper into the ear canal and cause earwax compaction. Instead, remove earwax with softening drops.
- Ear infections can cause conductive hearing loss; if you get sick with a viral infection (such as a cold or COVID), stay hydrated and get lots of rest to reduce your risk of an infection developing.
Lifestyle Choices
Our bodies are complex networks of systems and organs; everything works together, and everything is connected. This is true for hearing. Our sense of hearing relies on healthy, steady, oxygen-rich blood flow to keep the cells and organs of the auditory system working properly. To that end, a healthy heart and cardiovascular system directly benefit your ears and sense of hearing. Take care of your overall health and protect your hearing by:
- Eating a heart-healthy diet with adequate amounts of the nutrients you need, such as iron and glucose.
- Stay active and get plenty of exercise, such as walking, hiking, yoga at the local senior center, pickleball or swimming.
- Manage other health conditions with the help of your health care team. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, Lyme disease, autoimmune conditions and certain types of cancer and tumors can impact hearing.
Regular Hearing Checkups
Finally, one of the best ways to monitor your hearing health is to get your hearing checked regularly. Monitoring for changes in your hearing allows you to take action before it progresses further. In fact, we strongly recommend coming in for a hearing test at age 50, even if you don’t believe you have any symptoms of hearing loss, to establish a hearing baseline that you can refer to as you get older.
Contact The House Institute today to make an appointment. We’re happy to be on your hearing health journey with you, and we want to be your partners in, not just hearing health, but healthy aging.
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1 Reed, N. S., Garcia-Morales, E. E., Myers, C., Huang, A. R., Ehrlich, J. R., Killeen, O. J., Hoover-Fong, J. E., Lin, F. R., Arnold, M. L., Oh, E. S., Schrack, J. A., & Deal, J. A. (2023). Prevalence of Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use Among US Medicare Beneficiaries Aged 71 Years and Older. JAMA network open, 6(7), e2326320. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.26320