Have you ever caught yourself saying “what” or “huh” when speaking with friends and family? Has anyone ever mentioned that the television or the music was too loud? Or maybe you or your loved ones have experienced frustrating miscommunications about instructions and plans.
There are more than 450 million people with hearing loss globally and that number is expected to grow to over 900 million by the year 2050 according to the World Health Organization.
Hearing loss isn’t just an inconvenience, it greatly affects your ability to socialize with friends, maintain relationships and stay active. It can also be detrimental to your physical, mental and economic well being. Researchers are finding associations between hearing loss and a list of comorbidities ranging from cardiovascular disease to depression and dementia.
Although there is no cure for hearing loss, there are several solutions on the market to help treat hearing loss. These solutions range from tools to that help remove ear wax to hearing aids and more invasive procedures like cochlear implants and surgeries. Some of these solutions require a trip to a hearing health specialist and can be quite expensive.
However, there are several natural things that you can do at home that may be helpful in improving your hearing naturally. You may be able to maintain and improve your hearing naturally by making small, but impactful lifestyle changes.
1. Improve Your Hearing Naturally With These Vitamins and Minerals
There is a growing body of evidence that several vitamins and minerals have been associated with an improvement in ear function and hearing. There have been reports that people have not only been able to improve their hearing naturally, but that it has also helped with a condition known as tinnitus, which can be debilitating, and can rob you of the joy of life.
Magnesium to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
Magnesium has been known to aid healthy nerve function in the auditory system and helps prevent damage to the inner lining of your arteries.
Zinc to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
Zinc supports your body’s immune system, helping prevent ear infections that can cause short-term and long-term hearing loss and tinnitus. Zinc can also help protect the hair cells in the cochlea. Hair cells are responsible for receiving sound waves from our environment and transmitting them to the brain where it is interpreted as sound.
Folic Acid to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
Folic acid helps promote and support circulation to your ears and auditory system. Blood flow and oxygen are critical in maintaining healthy hair cells responsible for hearing.
B Vitamins to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
You may already know about some of the benefits of B vitamins, but they may also provide benefits for your auditory system. B vitamins can help with oxygen circulation and fluid regulation.
2. Exercise to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
Your brain is the ultimate processor. Our ears and auditory system help receive, convert and transmit signals to your brain so they can be interpreted and recognized as meaningful sound. Exercises that strengthen your brain function may help you communicate and comprehend language easier.
3. Use Auditory Training and Sound Therapies
Listening and Communication Enhancement (LACE)
Just as physical therapy can help rebuild muscles and adjust movements to compensate for physical weakness or injury, LACE can help you develop skills and learn strategies for dealing with situations when hearing is inadequate. LACE is an interactive computerized training program that’s self-paced, individualized and can be completed at home. It improves listening and communication skills by involving patients in the hearing-aid fitting process, building confidence and providing effective listening strategies.
AudioCardio – Threshold Sound Conditioning
AudioCardio is data and science backed mobile app that utilizes proprietary Threshold Sound Conditioning technology to deliver personalized “silent and barely audible” sound therapies designed to maintain and strengthen your hearing. More than 75% of participants in a Stanford study showed a significant impact on hearing.
4. Remove Excess Earwax to Improve Your Hearing Naturally
Ear wax is good for you. It’s a natural defense mechanism that protects the inside of your ear from foreign particles, bacteria and infection. However, excess ear wax can cause hearing loss, tinnitus and discomfort. Visit your hearing health professional if you suspect blockage. They have specialized devices to remove the excess ear wax build up. You should never attempt to remove excess ear wax yourself as it may cause further discomfort or damage.
5. Don’t Smoke
Research indicates that smoking can more than double your risk of hearing loss. As mentioned previously, blood flow and oxygen are critical for health hearing function. Blood flow and oxygen are negatively affected by nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine has been known to cause tinnitus and some experts believe it may interfere with the neurotransmission of the signals from our auditory system to our brain.
AudioCardio is a technology company focused on hearing health and wellness. Learn how AudioCardio can help maintain and strengthen your hearing with your favorite headphones or hearing aids at www.audiocardio.com.
Sources
Clinician judged hearing impairment and associations with neuropathologic burden
https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2020/08/05/WNL.0000000000010575
Age-related hearing loss and neuropathological burden
https://n.neurology.org/content/early/2020/08/05/WNL.0000000000010580
Cigarette Smoking and Hearing Loss
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/187596
What did you say? Natural ways to prevent hearing loss http://www.nyrnaturalnews.com/article/what-did-you-say-natural-ways-to-prevent-hearing-loss/
Smoking and hearing loss
http://www.healthyhearing.com/content/articles/Hearing-loss/Causes/50940-Smoking-and-hearing-loss
Earwax blockage
The statements and opinions in this blog are for informational purposes only. The content is subject to change without notice.The information contained herein is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment in any manner. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this blog.
