Hearing loss can occur for various reasons. These include infections, accidents, and a build-up of earwax. It can also accompany the natural aging process. Whatever the reason, hearing loss can be distressing for the sufferer.
Furthermore, the loss of one of the senses, such as the ability to hear, can lead to communication difficulties in everyday life.
The question many sufferers of hearing loss ask is how they can prevent a decline in their hearing once hearing difficulties begin. There are some preventative measures that can be taken, but these all depend on the type of hearing loss that is present.
When there is damage to the hair cells located in the cochlea, sensorineural hearing loss can occur. Conductive hearing loss can be caused by infection or a build-up of wax blocking the outer or middle ear, while those over 50 may experience age-related hearing loss, which is also known as presbycusis.
General healthy living can prevent a decline in overall health. It can also protect the senses, such as hearing and vision. A healthy diet and lifestyle can help prevent high blood pressure, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
Heart disease and high blood pressure can have a direct effect on hearing because both conditions can damage the delicate mechanisms in the ear that allow us to hear. A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and a diet rich in nutrients can help slow the progression of various diseases or stop them from affecting other parts of the body.
If individuals are in the early stages of hearing loss, then a diet and lifestyle overhaul can help slow the progression of this condition and preserve hearing for longer.
Alcohol and smoking have long been known to damage human health. However, it is mostly thought that these habits can lead to cancer and liver cirrhosis rather than hearing problems. But both can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, two conditions that have a negative impact on the health of the inner workings of the ears.
It is thought that nicotine can also interfere with neurotransmitters, which are responsible for telling the brain which sound a person is hearing. Smoking can also irritate the lining of the middle ear as well.
Although earwax is necessary for ear health, it can become problematic if it is allowed to build over time and harden. Earwax protects the inner ear from dust, bacteria, water, and other foreign objects. It also forms a protective barrier along the outer ear, which blocks such objects from entering and damaging parts of the inner ear.
If a certain amount of earwax isn’t removed regularly, it can harden and form a barrier that can block sounds from reaching the inner ear, leading to temporary hearing loss. Those with small ear canals are at greatest risk.
Removing hardened earwax or softening it with ear drops before removal can help prevent further hearing loss from occurring. In most cases, once the wax is removed, hearing often returns to normal.
Some medications can increase the chances of hearing loss or make preexisting hearing loss even worse. It is thought that there are an estimated 200 drugs, some of which are over-the-counter medicines that can damage hearing. Antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, and even aspirin have been linked to causing hearing loss.
Anyone with hearing difficulties should have regular hearing tests and checkups. These can prevent hearing problems from progressing or even diagnose treatable hearing conditions in their early stages.
For those over 60, having a hearing test once a year is advisable, as age-related hearing risks increase with time.