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How to Prevent Hearing Loss in the Elderly

Hearing Loss is a Common Problem in Aging

Hearing is one of our most important senses. We use it to perceive so many aspects of our lives; from listening to music to chatting with our friends and family. Even the simple act of crossing the road depends on it. We rely on the ability to hear every day and is an integral part of who we are. Elders are highly susceptible to the loss of hearing.

Considering that, it can certainly be a scary thing when we find ourselves beginning to experience hearing loss. No one wants to struggle with being able to hear, and it’s bound to place a strain on relationships and affect the quality of life. The unfortunate reality is that as we age, we’re more likely to lose more of our hearing with each passing year.

If you or someone you know is experiencing hearing loss, you’ve come to the right place. This article goes into detail about how hearing loss can happen, as well as some steps that you can take to prevent it. Keep reading to find out more.

Prevent Hearing Loss by Avoiding Loud Noises

One of the biggest contributing factors to hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. The ears are a delicate organ of the human body and are finely-tuned instruments that can detect even the slightest noises. Our ears were designed to hear soft voices around the crackle of a fire, however, many of today’s man-made machinery and technologies are extremely loud, and consistent exposure to these elements is bound to damage your ears.

If you or somebody you know has been exposed to a loud work environment or some other means of constant noise, there’s a good chance that the hearing was lost over time by being in that vicinity. If this is the case, try reducing the amount of time spent near the noisy element, or try wearing hearing protection to help cut down the noise.

Heath Conditions Could Be the Cause

Though this isn’t something that many would expect to be the cause, your prior or current health conditions or diseases could play a role in the loss of your hearing. Your ears are connected to your body as one unit, and often, if something were to happen in one area of the body, it could affect every part of your body to some degree.

If you have dealt with past health concerns, such as heart disease and cancer treatments or are currently dealing with health matters such as diabetes, your hearing may also suffer from the effects of your condition. The best way to help prevent further hearing loss is by taking steps to optimise your health. Adequate sleep, proper eating and exercise, and keeping up with your medication will help keep your hearing in prime condition. Regular hearing tests can help keep on top of any deterioration in hearing as it happens too. 

Keeping Your Ears Clean

Often people think they need to clean their ears regularly however our ears are usually ‘self-cleaning’ and ear wax actually generally finds its own way out of our ears. The use of cotton buds to clean ear canals is not recommended as you can actually damage the soft skin in your ears or even damage your eardrum. If you think you may need assistance with ear wax management or removal it’s very important that you speak with a trained professional. Country Hearing care’s audiologists are fully trained in wax removal techniques and can help you find a quick, easy and safe solution. 

Talk Over Your Medications With Your Doctor

It’s not uncommon for elders to take medications to help them improve their way of living or treat health conditions. That said, certain medications may not react favourably to the body and maybe doing more harm than you might think.

If you’ve recently been placed on a certain type of medication and have noticed a reduction in your hearing, you may be suffering from a side effect of your medicine. Of course, you don’t want to suffer from a loss in hearing, but you also need your medication to continue to function and take care of everyday activities.

When you’re experiencing hearing loss through medication, you need to talk to your doctor about your symptoms so they can work with you to find a better medicine for your needs or closely monitor the situation. Make sure to speak up about it before to prevent the hearing loss from becoming worse.

preventing hearing loss in the elderly

Your Hearing Loss May Be Hereditary

Some hearing losses or conditions are hereditary or genetic. If your family has a history of hearing loss, there’s a good chance that you may experience a natural loss of hearing too at some time. In this case, you’ll want to take measures to help prevent or monitor further hearing loss by looking into a hearing test and getting expert advice and care from a qualified audiologist. 

Providing You With the Care You Need

Now that you know how hearing loss can occur, you can use this knowledge to prevent hearing loss from progressing in your life. However, preventing further hearing loss is only half of the battle; you’ll also want to have the hearing that you’ve lost returned to you and we’re here to help you do just that.

At Country Hearing Care, we work hard to help people with hearing loss find a solution to ensure that you can live life to the fullest again. We offer a variety of services, including hearing tests, hearing aids and aftercare support, to people of all ages. We’re also proud to offer free hearing services to pensioners, as well as eligible veterans and their dependents.

Ready to get started? Browse through our site to learn more about who we are and what we do, and make sure to book an appointment whenever you’re ready to receive our services. Let’s get your hearing back today!

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Find a clinic near you that can help you with all your hearing needs.

Take the first step to a happier life

Talk to your local hearing test clinician

Talk to a local expert

Chat now or call us at
1800 432 748.

Online Hearing Test

Online hearing test

Test your hearing from the comfort of your own home.
Find your nearest hearing clinic

Find your nearest hearing clinic

Find a clinic near you that can help you with all your hearing needs.