HEALTHY HEARING:
How to Effectively Improve Hearing
It is estimated that at the age of 65, every third of us will have a hearing impairment. Why is this sense so vulnerable to defects? Where do the disturbances in the functioning of the auditory system come from? Does any damage or inflammation in one of the three parts of the ear inevitably lead to this organ losing its ability to properly pick up and send signals to the brain? Can ailments be dealt with with lifestyle changes and modern dietary supplements? We will answer these questions, starting with the intricate structure of the auditory system.
The ear has a complicated system inside of it that transforms sound waves into a form that is comfortable for our brain. Capturing sounds is not the only function of the ears, as they also play a vestibular role and help you maintain your balance.
How is the auditory system built?
The three main areas of the ear are the middle, outer, and inner parts. The outer ear is the vestibule itself and the ear canal leading to the eardrum, behind which is an air-filled ear drum containing three ossicles. They are the ones in the middle ear area that transmit and amplify sound vibrations.
From the middle ear, the vibrations go to the place in the temporal bone, which is called the cochlea. It houses the Corti organ, a cluster of nerve receptors that convert vibrations into nerve impulses. In this part, called the inner ear, there is, for example, the Eustachian tube, which is located behind the tonsils and leads to the tympanic cavity. Its purpose is to ventilate the tympanic cavity as well as adjust the pressure in the cavity to the atmospheric pressure.
The most common causes of hearing impairment
Hearing problems cause diseases that affect different parts of the hearing aid: the middle ear (acute and chronic otitis), the inner ear (labyrinthitis), and the outer ear (atopic and allergic contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis). The main causes of hearing loss are infectious diseases (scarlet fever, influenza, measles, meningitis), hypothermia, injuries or excessive sound pressure. In addition to hearing impairment, symptoms of ear problems include pain and persistent tinnitus, dizziness, and a stuffy feeling in the ear.
There are many factors that can lead to hearing loss, but the most common are:
- aging,
- long-term or short-term exposure to noise,
- Head damage,
- virus or disease (e.g. measles or mumps, diabetes, stroke)
- heredity,
- obesity,
- smoking,
- ototoxicity (drugs that damage hearing).
When to start worrying about hearing?
If you sometimes ask others to repeat what they said, or you often have to look at your interlocutor’s lips to “read” them, surely your hearing may decline. Other worrying signs include setting the TV or radio at a volume that the rest of your household finds too high. Problems with understanding conversations in noisy places can also be a disturbing symptom, as well as difficulties with hearing women’s and children’s voices – hearing loss in the range of such high frequencies is very common.
Other situations include the subjective feeling that people are mumbling or slurred speech and ringing in the ears. If you often have problems hearing on the phone – better have your hearing tested. The sooner you do this, the greater the chance that the treatment will be successful.
People who feel left out of the conversation and have a bad experience trying to hear in public often avoid socializing, but this may not be the case. Isolation only leads to a deterioration in the mental state and further complications. Therefore, it is best to prioritize hearing – even when the family points out that you may have misheard or say “listen with your ear, not with your belly.” These can also be reasons to have your hearing tested, just in case.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus is a separate issue worth mentioning. This is the first symptom of hearing loss, appearing in the form of an unbearable, inner sound that creates a lot of tension in the head. Sometimes tinnitus destabilizes a person’s normal functioning and can significantly impair their well-being. These noises are not caused by external sound. They affect approximately 15% to 20% of people and are especially common in the elderly.
Tinnitus is most often described as ringing, and it can cause other types of phantom noises in the ears, such as buzzing, clicking, or hissing. These sounds can vary in height, from a low humming noise to a high-pitched screeching noise, and can be heard in one or both ears. In some cases, the sound may be so loud that it interferes with your ability to concentrate or hear outside sounds. Tinnitus may be present all the time or it may come and go. On rare occasions, they may appear as a rhythmic, pulsating or wheezing sound, often in the rhythm of the heartbeat (pulsating noise). If you suffer from noise that is making your daily life difficult, consult your doctor. It’s also a good idea to consider taking a dietary supplement such as Audiovium to help reduce your tinnitus and support normal hearing.
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How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
A hostile sound environment is the bane of civilization, which contributes to a large number of ear diseases. Noise below 75 decibels (dB) is unlikely to cause hearing loss, but 85 dB and above can have a very negative impact.
In the United States, an estimated 40 million American adults suffer from noise-induced hearing loss. And it could have been prevented – it requires at least three elements:
- Find out what sounds are too loud (all above 85 dB).
- Avoid loud noises or limit the amount of time spent around them.
- Wear special earplugs when you cannot avoid loud noises or move to a safe distance from them.
Remember that you can be safe even at loud concerts, because there are professional plugs available on the market that reduce high or low sounds, not muffle them. Thanks to this, you can safely enjoy your favorite music – without any health damage.
10 tips to help protect your hearing
- Use earplugs when exposed to loud sounds.
- Turn down the volume of the TV, radio, music, etc.
- If possible, avoid noisy places.
- Limit the amount of time you are exposed to loud noises.
- Take breaks from noise when listening to loud sounds (e.g. music, concerts).
- At concerts or events, do not stand next to the loudspeaker.
- Give your ears time to recover from exposure to loud noises.
- Do not clean your ears with sticks, so as not to damage their delicate structure.
- Be active! Exercise also has a positive effect on the ears.
- Do a hearing test, especially if you notice a change in your hearing, ringing, or disturbing noises.
Preparations for improving hearing without a prescription
There are many pharmaceuticals available on the market, which confirms that the hearing problem affects a large number of Poles. Hearing improvement also improves the quality of life, so it is worth taking a close look at the supplements you intend to use. What preparations can be reached by people who want to both repair their hearing, but also take care of prophylaxis?
Hearing pills can contain various substances that improve the blood supply to the cochlea. You can use agents with Japanese ginkgo (eg Audiovium), which is especially helpful for the elderly whose blood supply is weaker. The preparation for improving hearing can also be enriched with other beneficial substances, such as magnesium that protects nerve cells (including the auditory nerve), or calcium, which is important for the proper transmission of nerve impulses. Such supplements are also recommended for young people who want to keep good hearing for many years. Thanks to these measures, it is possible to hear sounds of better timbre and lower intensity, restore the required sensitivity to the sense of hearing, and eliminate fatigue caused by hearing loss, improve vitality and prevent dizziness.
Proper hygiene plays a significant role in caring for the ears. Ears should be cleaned regularly to prevent blockage of the ear canals. How to do it in a safe way? Remember that the sticks are intended only for cleaning the ears outside. However, to clean the middle of the ear, we should reach for special preparations, such as drops and sprays, which help to open the ears. They dissolve the earwax accumulated in the ear canal and facilitate its removal. It is worth using them 1-2 times a week, preferably with appropriate supplementation, which supports the proper functioning of the hearing organ and soothes bothersome tinnitus. Dietary supplements such as Audiovium should be taken regularly, at least over a period of several weeks, to see the first effects. They contain natural plant extracts and vitamins that improve circulation, improve the functioning of the nervous system and aid hearing.
Herbs to improve hearing
Among the natural substances are, first of all, the aforementioned ginkgo biloba leaf, as well as the ginseng root. The use of extracts from these plants contributes not only to better hearing, but also to the elimination of some ailments related to the hearing organ, such as noise, ringing, squeaking in the ears or the feeling of clogging the ears. These herbs increase the secretion of nitric oxide in the blood vessels, which improves hearing and reduces noise.
Ear drops - a liquid supplement to improve hearing
The drops dissolve the accumulated earwax and are a very convenient way to reach the ear canal, although not everyone likes this method of improving the quality of their hearing. They usually contain choline salicylate, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain reliever. Their main ingredients are phenazone (pain reliever) and lidocaine hydrochloride (anesthetic). They are most often used in inflammation of the middle ear, provided that the eardrum is not damaged. There are many types of substances on the market that are effective on hearing. For example, drops containing gentamicin and betamethasone corticosteroid help to eliminate infection caused by bacteria.
Other drops, based on norfloxacin, can be successfully used in both acute and chronic conditions inflammation of the ear.
Natural medications and supplements for hearing loss
A diet that supports hearing is not only fruit and vegetables, but also effective supplements which, thanks to their antioxidant properties, play an important role in the proper functioning of the ear. By providing them to the body, we can counteract possible damage to the hearing aid. Ideally, the dietary supplement should contain some of the following ingredients:
- Zinc, which has an effective effect on tinnitus and nervous hearing loss.
- Vitamins B2, B6, B12, which have a beneficial effect on the nervous system related to the hearing organ and facilitate the transmission of stimuli from the ear to the brain.
- Selenium responsible for the proper functioning of enzymes that protect cells against toxins and free radicals.
- Hesperidin, which protects the body against oxidative damage, which increases the risk of hearing impairment.
- Melatonin is used in the case of sensorineural hearing disorders and age-related hearing problems.
- Folic acid supporting the nervous system, related to the hearing organ.
- Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin E to protect the ears from free radical damage.
- Glutathione – an antioxidant that helps prevent hearing loss and minimize damage to the brain’s auditory centers.
- Ginkgo biloba extract, which can reduce ringing and tinnitus.
Other home remedies to improve hearing
Whether you suffer from hearing loss or not, keeping your ears in good condition can have a positive effect on sound quality and communication with other people. What can you do to improve your hearing without leaving your home?
1. Meditate
More and more people are starting their adventure with meditation to improve their hearing health. This is because deep breathing increases blood flow to the brain.
2. Quit smoking
Smoking and hearing loss are closely related. Since blood flow and oxygen help keep cells in the inner ear healthy, it is understood that hearing can be impaired by the harmful effects of nicotine.
3. Practice yoga
Many hearing impaired people say that yoga can sometimes help them hear better. Stretching in selected positions delivers oxygen-rich blood to your head faster, which can help with hearing. Daily physical exercise also helps to keep the body healthy and fit, thanks to which all human systems function better.
4. Train your hearing
The aim of such exercises is to improve the perceived auditory stimuli, stimulate concentration and better functioning of the nervous system. The training method was developed by Alfred Tomatis – a French otolaryngologist, neurologist and phoniatrist.
Hearing improvement - candling
This is an old method, already known in ancient Egypt and Greece. It consists in inserting a special candle made of beeswax, flax fiber and honey extract into the ear (approx. 1 cm deep). After lighting the candle, the air in the ear canal is diluted and the earwax is removed by the vacuum generated. This procedure is best performed under the supervision of an experienced person – so as not to damage the ear canal.
Good hearing - the results of the latest research
To reduce noise-induced hearing loss, vitamins A, C and E in combination with magnesium may be the answer. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur as a result of a single incident or from prolonged exposure to loud noise. It is no coincidence that US university hearing researchers recommend vitamins A, C and E. Researchers at the University of Michigan found that this blend of ingredients helps prevent noise-induced hearing loss by blocking the formation of free radicals. The combination of these vitamins stopped as much as 80 percent of noise-induced hearing loss.
Also, folic acid is effective in counteracting hearing problems in the elderly. Even if you’ve never worked in a noisy environment, you may feel that your hearing deteriorates as you age. Age-related hearing loss can occur in part because of homocysteine. This essential amino acid contributes to hearing difficulties by reducing blood flow to the inner ear.
A study by the University of Sydney found that men and women with high blood levels of homocysteine were 65 percent more likely to suffer from hearing loss. This is where folic acid comes in. It helps the body to break down homocysteine and prevents the reduction in blood flow. You can of course find folic acid in supplement form, but diet is also a good option. To this end, your table should be full of beans, citrus fruits, whole grains and dark leafy vegetables.
Hearing research is advanced and brings new discoveries all the time. Regardless of them, it is worth considering whether our ears are not exposed to dangers, because it is better to prevent them now than to face irreversible consequences in the future.
