What You Need to Know About Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is the fastest growing, and one of the most prevalent, chronic conditions today. It’s no longer a seniors’ problem. An estimated 15 percent of adults report some trouble hearing. Further, there’s an increase in depression and anxiety rates among people with significantly impaired hearing. A 2013 study also linked hearing loss with cognitive decline in older adults.

Such hard-working appendages should be rewarded with your respect. It’s easier than you might think to prevent the most common type of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be temporary. But repeated exposure to loud noises over long periods can make this hearing loss permanent.

Scientists say that prolonged exposure to noises higher than 85 dBA (A-weighted decibels) can cause hearing loss. A normal conversation usually reaches about 60 dBA. Surprisingly, many everyday things can expose us to 85 dBA or higher, including music through headphones or earbuds, live music concerts, video games, lawn mowers and weed trimmers, movie theatres, and traffic.

Listen for the warning signs of overly high noise levels. These include ringing or buzzing in your ears, muffled and unclear sounds, and difficulty following or understanding conversations against background noise.

It doesn’t take much to damage your hearing, sometimes permanently. So, think twice before you bump up the volume. You’ll know if the volume’s too loud if you can’t comfortably hold a conversation with someone standing 2 metres (6.5 ft) away. If you have young children in the house, it’s even more important to keep the volume at safe levels.

It’s a thing! Traffic noise, road and building construction, and loud neighbours are just a few sources of noise pollution. It’s such an issue in our everyday lives that the World Health Organization has identified it as a threat to public health.

What can you do? Try to find a quiet escape—an art gallery or library. Better yet, unplug and get out into nature. It’ll do you—and your ears—a world of good!

Yes, we mean cotton swabs, hairpins, or other objects used to remove earwax buildup. The problem is that you’re more likely to push earwax further into your ear. You may even damage your ear when you’re prodding and poking around.

The truth is that earwax is there for a reason. And the earwax we don’t need usually takes care of itself. So, if you suspect you have a blockage, play it safe and consult a professional.

• Wear hearing protectors at noisy events (workplaces, movie theatres, music concerts, sporting events)
• Stand farther away from noise sources.
• Spend less time in noisy environments.
• Keep nose blowing gentle, and use both nostrils.
• When flying, swallow and yawn frequently during landing to equalize air pressure in the ears.

A study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a combination of antioxidant vitamins (daily beta carotene and vitamins C and E) and magnesium were associated with lower risks of hearing loss. A Dutch study showed folic acid supplements slowed down loss of low-frequency hearing among 50- to 70-year-olds. In another study that specifically looked at occupational noise, vitamin E appeared to reduce the risk of NIHL.

Although noise-induced hearing loss is prevalent, it’s certainly not the only reason people suffer hearing loss. About one-third of people between 65 and 74 and about half of people older than 75 suffer from presbycusis (aka age-related hearing loss hearing loss). Illnesses such as viral and bacterial infections, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, Ménière’s disease, otosclerosis, tumours, and autoimmune conditions, can also play a role, as can prenatal conditions, such as fetal alcohol syndrome or conflicting parental blood types. Further, there are more than 200 drugs and chemicals that can trigger hearing and balance issues. Some include antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, aspirin, and erectile dysfunction drugs.