What’s the
first thing that comes to mind when you think of healthy hearing? Successfully
passing a hearing test? Or maybe, it’s the ability to clearly understand speech
in noisy environments. Hearing loss is the third most
prevalent chronic condition in older adults and the most widespread disability.
Its prevalence rises with age – 46% of people aged 45 to 87 have hearing loss
(Cruickshanks et al. 1998). Fortunately,
valuable resources to improve and support hearing health are easily accessible.
So, whether you’d like to reduce the risk of hearing loss, or you’re looking
for strategies to improve your hearing overall, here are five ways to get
started:
1.
Protect your
ears. One of the most prevalent causes of significant
hearing loss is exposure to loud noise; the louder the noise and the
longer you’re exposed to it, the greater your chances of damaging your hearing.
A simple key to keeping your hearing at its best is by protecting it. Start by
identifying places and situations where you are most susceptible to loud noise
and take proper measures to protect your hearing. Carry earplugs with you
(in a pocket or purse) and use them in loud environments, like mowing the lawn
or going to a music concert. You can also control volume by following the 60/60
rule — when listening to music through headphones, listen at no more than
60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day — and be sure to give your ears
time to recover!
2.
Practice
active listening. This exercise can help you
stay focused in conversation by redirecting your mind from the thoughts inside
your head to the dialogue at hand. Practice paraphrasing in discussions, make
the effort to draw out details that may not have been outwardly shared; pretend
you will be tested on how much the other person is saying. Try listening to
audiobooks, perhaps even read along with a hard copy while you listen! These
are all great ways to adopt active listening as a habit — keeping your
eyes, ears, and brain actively working together. The more you practice, the easier
it becomes to focus on words being spoken during a conversation, even in noisy
environments.
3.
Walk more
often. According to a study published in the American
Journal of Medicine, those who walked an average of two hours each week
displayed a reduced risk for developing or worsening hearing loss. How? Cardio
exercise increases blood flow throughout our bodies, including our ears; maintaining
this blood flow is integral to our hearing health. The tiny hair cells that are
responsible for translating sound into electrical impulses for our brains to
process can only work to their full potential when blood flow is actively
reaching them. So, go ahead, walk it out!
4.
Talk to a
Hearing Care Professional. Did you
know that hearing loss is often left untreated because many people aren’t aware
they’re suffering from it? The most effective way to be on top of your hearing
health and recognize the signs of hearing loss is to have regular consultations
with a Hearing Care Professional. Allow these
professionals to determine the current state of your hearing, starting with a
baseline hearing test, and then monitoring for any changes that may occur in
the future. Since hearing typically diminishes with time, you shouldn’t wait to
meet with your Hearing Care Professional— get all the information you need to
protect, enhance and understand your hearing as soon as you can. We recommend
getting a hearing test if you have any difficulty hearing in background noise,
if you are above the age of 55, or if anybody in your life has been urging you
to get a hearing test (often it’s the closest people to you that notice your
hearing loss first).
5.
Use a
hearing instrument. If you’ve
already been diagnosed with hearing loss and have been recommended hearing aids
by a Hearing Care Professional, this is a sign you should make the next step
and be fitted with hearing aids. The earlier the better! If you have already
been fitted with hearing aids by a Hearing Care Professional, wearing them daily
as recommended may actually improve your hearing! Think of hearing like a
muscle: the more it’s actively worked, the stronger it will become. Using hearing
aids gives your ears the
boost they need, so speech becomes clear and recognizable. There are even
hearing aids, such as Sonic's Captivate line, that can intelligently detect
noise and control amplification quickly and easily — adapting smoothly to
changing sound situations for incredibly natural listening experiences.
Taking action to both improve your hearing and/or treat hearing health conditions can be empowering in more than one way. Our hearing affects nearly every aspect of our life,and taking control of it can elevate both our mental and physical wellbeing. Whether you need support, want to explore new products or learn more about hearing health, talk to a Hearing Care Professional today to see how Sonic can help make Everyday Sounds Better.
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