Hearing loss is a common health concern of Whitaker Wellness patients and Health & Healing subscribers alike, and it’s no wonder as it affects 48 million Americans to some degree. Unfortunately, the average person waits seven long years to have their hearing loss addressed. I’m here to tell you about real, practical help for hearing loss—and it’s available to you right now.
Hearing Loss Tip #1: Cut Out the Noise
At times, we can’t escape our noisy surroundings, and for many people the prolonged exposure to loud sounds is an occupational necessity. Therefore, it is no surprise that carpenters, airline pilots, rock musicians, and road crews are much more susceptible to hearing loss and other auditory problems.
As you likely know, sound travels in waves. A sound’s volume is determined by the amplitude, or height, of the wave, and is measured in decibels (dB). A barely audible sound measures zero decibels; normal conversation is about 60 dB; the roar of downtown traffic is about 90 dB, your garbage disposal is 95 dB, and a jet is around 120 dB. The Us Occupational Safety and Health Administration prohibits levels above 90 dB in the workplace. And unprotected ears shouldn’t be exposed to sounds louder than 95 decibels for longer than four hours—for every 5 decibel increase, exposure time should be cut in half.
To help protect against noise-related hearing loss, invest in a good pair of ear plugs to muffle sounds that affect your hearing. Avoid using cotton balls because they can get lodged within the inner ear, and aren’t nearly as effective as the plugs. You can find a good set of ear plugs at any pharmacy, hardware store, or army surplus store. In addition, make a conscious effort to keep the volume of the radio or TV at an audible level, but no louder. Commercials often come on at a greater volume than regular TV programs, so turn it down-or push the mute button and give your ears a rest for a few moments. Periodic “moments of silence” give your ears a chance to recover from the daily onslaught of auditory stimulation they receive.
Hearing Loss Tip #2: Clear Out Your Ears Regularly
It’s important that your ear passages are as clear as possible, as earwax buildup is associated with hearing loss. M.H. answered an ad for a free hearing test and was told he needed two hearing aids at a cost of $3,500. “I felt like a fish on the hook. I was told if I didn’t get them, I could get dementia! So I went to my ENT doctor, who cleaned the wax out of my ears and told me I did not need hearing aids.”
If you feel you have a similar problem, talk to your doctor or try this at-home technique for softening and removing earwax. Mix one tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in a cup of warm water Tilt your head to the side and place a few drops of the liquid into your ear, keeping your head to the side for about three minutes. Repeat with the other ear and wipe out the interior of the ear with a cotton cloth.
You may immediately notice a dramatic improvement in your ability to hear, or you may have to repeat the procedure several times over three or four days to remove all the wax and improve hearing loss. Do not attempt to remove wax by sticking a Q-tip or any other device in your ear. This can wedge it further in your ear, or damage the delicate hairs in the inner ear. Note: If this doesn’t help, ask your doctor for help in removing earwax.
Hearing Loss Tip #3: Try These Supplements for Hearing Loss
Several supplements have been shown to slow down and even potentially reverse hearing loss. One is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). After supplementing with 160 mg of CoQ10 daily for a month, a group of study participants aged 56-74 reported marked improvements in hearing.
Another supplement for hearing loss worth looking into is folic acid. Dutch researchers enrolled 728 older men and women who had some degree of hearing loss and high homocysteine levels and gave them either 800 mcg of folic acid or a placebo every day for three years. The researchers then retested the participants’ hearing and found that although there was some deterioration in both groups, those who had taken folic acid had significantly less hearing loss in the lower frequencies. (High frequencies were not affected.) An accompanying editorial suggested that the degree of decrease in age-related hearing loss demonstrated in this study could lead to a significant reduction in the need for hearing aids.
Zinc (30 mg), magnesium (500-1,000 mg), niacin (20 mg), and vitamins E (300 IU) and C (1,000 mg+) are also helpful supplements for hearing loss, so your best bet is to take a high-end daily multivitamin supplement. But check nutrient levels carefully, and try to find a product that contains 800 mcg of folic acid and above-RDA dosages of other vitamins and minerals.
Hearing Loss Tip #4: Consider a Hearing Aid
Only a small percentage of people with serious hearing loss do anything about it. Most have a prejudice against hearing aids, and vanity overrules practicality. Yet, there’s nothing attractive about missing out on conversations or constantly asking others to repeat themselves. Today’s devices to combat hearing loss are light-years ahead of the ones your grandparents wore 50 years ago. They are small, comfortable, and hardly noticeable. They also work better. While early models amplified all sounds, including nonessential noise, newer hearing aids can be programmed to amplify only sounds within the desired range, such as the high frequencies that are most likely to be affected by hearing loss.
There are so many models and types of hearing aids that I couldn’t begin to cover them here. You might have to try several different types, but chances are great that you will find one that works for you. Be aware, however, that Medicare and most insurance companies illogically classify hearing aids as “cosmetic devices,” and the cost of several hundred to several thousand dollars just might make your ears ring.
Help for Hearing Loss Recap
I hope you find these tips for hearing loss helpful. If you have any other ideas that may help others hear more clearly, please email them to [email protected].
