Why taking care of your hearing matters
Hearing isn’t just about being able to follow conversations or enjoy your favourite music. Good hearing helps keep your brain sharp, boosts your social life, and even protects your balance. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can lead to cognitive decline and feelings of isolation, especially as we get older. By taking small steps to protect your hearing now, you’re investing in a future that’s more vibrant and connected.
Easy ways to protect your hearing
Let’s take a look at some simple, practical tips to help you take care of your ears. The best part? These habits are easy to build into your daily life and can make a big difference over time.
Turn the volume down
One of the biggest threats to hearing health is exposure to loud sounds. If you regularly listen to music through headphones or earbuds, try following the '60/60 rule': keep the volume at or below 60% and listen for no more than 60 minutes at a time. For home speakers or car radios, keep the volume at a level where you can still hear what’s going on around you.
Give your ears a break
Just like our muscles need rest after a workout, our ears benefit from a bit of quiet time after they’ve been exposed to loud noise. This downtime helps prevent long-term damage. If you’ve been in a loud environment (like a concert, sports event, or noisy workplace), try to spend a few hours in a quiet space afterward. This simple practice helps your ears recover and protects them in the long run.
Wear ear protection in noisy settings
If your job involves exposure to loud machinery, or if you’re a fan of concerts and festivals, consider investing in ear protection. Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can be a lifesaver, reducing the impact of loud sounds on your inner ear. These days, there are even high-fidelity earplugs made specifically for music lovers that let you enjoy the sound while keeping your ears safe. Remember, it’s much easier to prevent damage with ear protection than to try to fix hearing loss later on.
Watch out for ear infections
Ear infections can be painful and, if left untreated, can sometimes lead to lasting hearing issues. To lower your risk, keep your ears dry and clean, especially after swimming. If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as pain, redness, or discharge, see a doctor sooner rather than later. Proper treatment can prevent complications and protect your hearing in the long run.
Don’t ignore warning signs
If you ever notice that sounds seem muffled, that you’re turning up the volume more often, or that there’s a persistent ringing in your ears, don’t ignore it. These symptoms could be early signs of hearing loss. A hearing test with a specialist can give you peace of mind - or help you get the support you need if you are experiencing early hearing loss.
Check your hearing regularly
Getting a hearing test might not sound as routine as a dental checkup, but they can catch any changes before they become noticeable. Many hearing issues can be managed with early detection, so it’s worth setting a reminder to check your hearing every couple of years, especially if you’re over 40 or have a family history of hearing issues.
Should you consider hearing aids?
Research suggests that hearing aids may help reduce the risk of dementia or delay its onset in people with hearing loss. Here’s how they help:
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Boosting brain activity: Hearing loss forces the brain to work harder to process sounds, leading it to 'borrow' resources from other cognitive functions like memory and concentration. Over time, this increased cognitive load can contribute to cognitive decline. Hearing aids make sounds clearer and easier to process, which allows the brain to operate more naturally and prevent overexertion.
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Staying socially connected: People with hearing loss often struggle to follow conversations, which can lead to withdrawal from social situations. This isolation is a significant risk factor for dementia. By improving hearing, hearing aids can make it easier to stay engaged in conversations and social activities, which helps keep the brain active and connected.
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Improving mental health: Hearing loss can lead to feelings of frustration, loneliness, and depression, all of which can have a negative impact on cognitive health. Hearing aids help people feel more involved in everyday life, which supports mental well-being and may help protect against dementia.
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Supporting auditory pathways: Hearing aids keep auditory pathways in the brain active, which helps maintain neural networks important for memory and learning. Essentially, they help 'exercise' parts of the brain that would otherwise be under-stimulated, supporting overall cognitive health.
Research backs this up, with studies showing that individuals who use hearing aids for moderate or severe hearing loss have a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline than those who do not. While hearing aids can’t prevent dementia, they can be a valuable part of maintaining long-term cognitive health.
