How to Improve Hearing: 10 Steps to Hear Better | Connect Hearing

Whether suffering from hearing loss or not, keeping your ears in good shape can have a real positive impact - on sound quality and other aspects of listening, such as speech segmentation¹. Making an effort to care for your hearing health is important - regardless of age. However, not many people know exactly what they should be doing to maintain it. Connect Hearing takes a look at how to improve hearing and what you can do right now to hear better...

1. Meditation

   More and more, people are turning to meditation for improving their hearing health.
   This is because relaxing and taking deep breaths increases blood flow to the brain - which can help you become more attuned to sounds that may have otherwise escaped your attention2.
   Despite being a mental exercise rather than a physical self-care activity, meditation can prove helpful for those looking to better engage with their hearing. 

2. Stop Smoking

   Smoking and hearing loss are undeniably linked; in fact, studies are happening all the time to show this positive correlation. Because blood flow and oxygen help maintain healthy cells in the inner ear, it’s understandable that hearing could be impaired by prolonged exposures to nicotine and carbon monoxide. So, make sure you quit cigarettes if you want to improve your quality of hearing and life³. 

3. Yoga

   Lots of people who suffer from impaired hearing say a yoga workout can sometimes help them hear better. Relaxing and stretching in positions like downward dog gets oxygen-rich blood to your head quicker, which may assist with hearing². You don’t need an instructor; simply roll out your mat wherever in the house is most comfortable, and remember to warm up beforehand. 

4. Turn Down the Volume

   An easy way to improve your hearing comfort is by keeping the noise down as much as possible. 85 decibels or louder in your environment are damaging - and, where possible, you should move away from the high volume4. Alternatively, if this is not an option, ensure that you always wear some form of hearing protection to avoid any serious hearing harm.

5. Check for Ear Wax

   It’s possible that your hearing may be affected by a build-up of ear wax. If ear wax is impacted, your ears may not be as receptive to sounds as usual. Not to worry, though; an excess of wax in the ears is both common and easily treatable. Professional ear wax removal can lessen or potentially even eliminate the effects of the associated hearing loss⁵.

6. Exercise Daily

   Being healthy benefits the entire body, including your ears, and the easiest way to stay in shape is with consistent exercise⁶. Going for a walk or jog or even just gardening or doing housework are all great ways to get your blood flowing and your heart circulating better. Just don’t have your music turned up too high; repeated exposure to loud noises can damage the irreplaceable ear hairs, which only impairs hearing further.

7. Focus and Locate Sounds

   It’s a good idea to try fine-tuning your focus on noise, as this can help improve hearing. There are various exercises you can do. One of the most popular involves putting on music in a quiet room and walking around your house while listening; you then attempt to identify certain words and instruments. This helps train your brain to locate and understand sounds with increasing ease and success⁷.

8. Vitamins

   The right balance of vitamins and minerals has been shown to improve quality of hearing8. Folic acid, B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc all have properties that contribute to better hearing and a healthier body in general. Consider taking a supplement so you get their full effects, but always consult a doctor first - especially if you’re on any other medication.

9. Book a Hearing Test

   In most cases of hearing impairment, a test will be needed to see the full extent of your problem and how best to manage it. You may be able to find an online hearing test that provides enough information, although this only applies to minor ear- and hearing-related complaints. For a more comprehensive check-up, book an in-person hearing test.

10. Hearing Aids

    Some people find the only way to manage their hearing loss is with hearing aids. Fortunately, the days of gigantic trumpets and noticeable devices are now behind us. Depending on the type of hearing aid recommended by your hearing healthcare professional, you can choose from a variety of models and styles, meaning you’ll look great and hear better all at the same time!
    Of course, some hearing issues require a more direct approach when it comes to resolving them. Visit a hearing care professional should you have any worries about your hearing health and how best to manage it.

Contact us to learn more about hearing loss and hearing-related options or book an appointment at www.connecthearing.ca/appointment

_{The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. You should not use the information as a substitute for, nor should it replace, professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.}

References

1. Hearing Health is More Than Hearing. Hear Well. Stay Vital. 2021
2. G Bellissimo. The Effects of Fast and Slow Yoga Breathing on Cerebral and Central Hemodynamics. International Journal of Yoga. 2020 Sep-Dec; 13(3): 207-212.  
3. Rafieepour, Athena PhD; Dehgahn, Somayeh Farhang PhD; Firoozi, Mahtab BS; Gorji, Rahim MSC; Ardalan, Arash MD; Vaziri, Mohammad Hossein MD. Study Highlights Impact of Smoking on Hearing Loss Among Workers Exposed to Noise. The Hearing Journal: September 2022 - Volume 75 - Issue 9 - p 24,25,26.  
4. Lauren K Dillard, Malachi Ochieng Arunda, Lucero Lopez-Perez, Ricardo X Martinez, Lucía Jiménez, Shelly Chadha. Prevalence and global estimates of unsafe listening practices in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health. 2022.
5. Neha Kashyap, Jordan Glicksman, MD, FRCSC, MPH. Can Ear Wax Cause Hearing Loss?WebMD. 2021
6. Chul Han, Dalian Ding, Maria-Cecilia Lopez, Senthilvelan Manohar, Yanping Zhang, Mi-Jung Kim, Hyo-Jin Park, Karessa White, Yong Hwan Kim,4 Paul Linser, Masaru Tanokura, Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, Henry V. Baker, Richard J. Salvi, and Shinichi Someya. Effects of Long-Term Exercise on Age-Related Hearing Loss in Mice. The Journal of Neuroscience 2016 Nov 2; 36(44): 11308–11319. 
7. Jacqueline Reeves Scott. How Can Music Help Your Hearing? Lexie Hearing. 2022. 
8. Josef Shargorodsky, MD, Sharon G. Curhan, MD, Roland Eavey, MD, and Gary C. Curhan, MD. A prospective study of vitamin intake and the risk of hearing loss in men. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010 Feb; 142(2): 231–236.