Feeling confident about your hearing? Even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms of hearing loss, life’s daily activities could have slowly been damaging your hearing. One in four adults who believes they have good or excellent hearing actually has hearing damage they aren’t aware of.
In the past, it was thought that hearing damage resulted from loud jobs, such as construction or landscaping. However, we now know that millions of people have less-than-perfect hearing due to everyday activities like sitting in traffic, using headphones, using a leaf blower, or attending sporting events. Even listening to an ambulance siren for more than a minute can damage your hearing.
Age-related hearing loss can start as early as the 30s and can be due to noise exposure, certain health conditions, medications, or genetics. If you’ve been experiencing any of the following signs, your hearing may already be suffering:
- Listening to TV or music louder than other people
- Struggling to hear people during conversations
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty differentiating certain sounds, like “s” or “th”
Protecting your hearing: the natural way
Whether you have symptoms or not, it’s crucial to take preventative measures to maintain healthy hearing and avoid further damage. Apart from obvious noise exposure precautions, there are natural ways to give your ears a much-needed boost.
Antioxidants to the rescue
Several studies have shown that certain antioxidants may significantly benefit your hearing. Noise-related hearing damage is caused when loud noises trigger the formation of free radicals in your ears. These radicals then begin to damage cells in your ears, but certain antioxidants can help counteract that damage.
A 2007 study by researchers at the University of Michigan found that high doses of vitamins A, C, and E and magnesium may prevent noise-related hearing damage. In this study, guinea pigs given this combination of antioxidants one hour before exposure to five hours of loud noise experienced significantly less hearing damage than those that didn’t receive them.
Another study conducted more recently shows that the antioxidant NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) helps neutralize the free radicals that cause hearing damage in mice.
The importance of antioxidants
Although the studies mentioned above were conducted on animals, it’s still essential to ensure you get enough antioxidants in your diet. Doing so will not only protect your hearing but also help prevent diseases. NAC, for example, is a potent antioxidant that’s known to help with a range of health issues, including:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Addiction
- COPD
- Cold and flu
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Alzheimer’s
- Parkinson’s
- Cancer
- Liver damage
You can take 500 to 600 mg of NAC daily, year-round, to provide a boost to your hearing and general health. However, you may want to up your intake to 1,000 to 1,200 mg per day during cold and flu season. Additionally, don’t forget to get enough vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium. All these antioxidants play an essential role in good hearing and good health.
Alternative methods
There are other natural ways to improve your hearing or slow down the process of hearing loss. Here are some methods you might want to consider:
- Ginkgo biloba: Studies have shown that Ginkgo biloba can provide small improvements to hearing and may help reduce the symptoms of tinnitus.
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Zinc: Another powerful antioxidant, zinc, is beneficial for your immune system and has been shown to improve sensorineural hearing loss.
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Acupuncture: Some people benefit from acupuncture sessions as a complementary treatment for hearing loss, particularly hearing loss caused by noise exposure.
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Avoidance of ototoxic medications: Some over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs can be ototoxic, meaning they damage the structures of the inner ear. Consult your doctor and ask about any potential side effects that may impact your hearing before taking new medications.
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Healthy lifestyle habits: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking can not only help with overall health but also might contribute to better hearing health.
Hearing loss may seem inevitable. Still, by taking the steps mentioned above, you can prevent further damage and support your hearing health naturally. Make sure to visit a healthcare professional for a comprehensive hearing evaluation and to discuss any steps you plan to take to improve your hearing.
