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Hearing Loss: Your Guide to Stop Saying “Huh?”

Hearing loss affects more than just the ability to communicate, it can influence your social life, cognition, energy levels, and even mobility. ¹ In the United States, 37.5 million adults, or just over one in every six adults, report some trouble hearing. ² Being proactive with prevention techniques and understanding the factors that contribute to hearing loss may help you avoid making “huh?” your new catchphrase.

Causes and Risk Factors for Hearing Loss

We most often associate hearing loss with age or loud noises, but there are several factors that are responsible for causing damage to the ear.

Noise Exposure

Excess exposure to loud noises is a common way to develop hearing loss and is more than likely the first cause that most people think of, but it is almost always preventable. The risk of damage stems from both decibel level and duration, so even moderately noisy environments can damage hearing over a longer period. Most sounds that are at or below 70dBA (A-weighted decibels), like a normal conversation which clocks in at about 70dBA, will not cause damage regardless of length, but repeated exposure of sounds that are 85dBA or greater can cause hearing loss over time. ³

Age

As we age, changes to the inner ear, exposure to certain medications, cumulative effects of noise exposure, and related health conditions can all increase the odds of developing hearing loss. ⁴

Infection

Did you know that most children will experience an ear infection by the age of 3? Chronic ear infections or infections left untreated can cause damage, resulting in hearing loss. ² Meningitis, an infection causing inflammation of fluid and membranes surrounding the spinal cord, can also cause this if left untreated. ⁵

Medications

Hearing loss caused by certain medications or chemicals is known as ototoxicity, which quite literally means poisoning of the ear. Ototoxic drugs, or those that may damage the inner ear, are often used in serious cases where the benefit of treatment outweighs the risk of hearing loss. ⁶ Different types of ototoxic drugs and chemicals include:

  • Aminoglycoside antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections

  • Chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatments, such as carboplatin and cisplatin

  • Loop diuretics, or water pills, often used for lowering blood pressure

  • Environmental chemicals like mercury, tin, lead, and carbon monoxide

Complications of Hearing Loss

The impacts of hearing loss can extend beyond the ear, affecting one’s social life, and even cognitive function.

  • Social Isolation and Depression – Hearing loss makes communication more difficult, which in turn can lead to social isolation, bad mood, and even depression. ⁷

  • Increased Dementia Risk – Understanding sounds and speech becomes more difficult, causing the brain to overwork itself. This in turn may result in changes to the part of the brain that affects our cognitive abilities. ⁸

  • Tinnitus – Commonly described as a ringing in the ears, tinnitus is a phantom sound that only the affected individual can hear. Frequency, volume, and characteristics vary from person to person, but most individuals who experience tinnitus have some degree of hearing loss. ⁹

  • Dizziness and Increased Risk of Falling – Because the inner ear is important for balance, damage can be accompanied by dizziness and increase your risk of falling. ¹

Treatment

Treatment depends greatly on the cause, with most treatment methods focusing on managing symptoms. Here are a few treatment examples that can be implemented in people of all ages, including children and infants: ¹⁰

  • Hearing Aids – Hearing aids increase the volume, allowing you to hear better, and are used to help with many types of hearing loss.

  • Cochlear Implants – A device that sends signals directly to the nerves of the inner ear and is commonly used to help children that have severe hearing loss.

  • Surgery – In cases like repeated infections, surgery can be helpful to remove fluid buildup from the inner ear. These drainage tubes are common in children who are more prone to ear infections.

Hearing Loss Prevention

Most types of hearing loss are irreversible, which means protecting your hearing from a young age is crucial. Following these tips may help keep your ears in tip-top shape: ¹¹

  • Limit your exposure to loud noises. The level of damage depends on both how loud a sound is, and how long you’re exposed to it.

  • Keep your distance. Staying further away from the source of a loud sound can reduce the decibel level you’re exposed to.

  • Wear hearing protection like ear plugs when you’re unable to avoid loud noises.

  • Stay on top of your immunizations to prevent infections like Meningitis that can affect your hearing.

Your hearing is important and protecting it can be beneficial to your health in many ways. Remember that prevention is key, and your healthcare team can be a valuable resource in preventing ear infections and picking the right medications to protect your ears.

Sources:

  1. https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/hearing-and-balance/

  2. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing

  3. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/noise-induced-hearing-loss

  4. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss#:~:text=Long%2Dterm%20exposure%20to%20noise,can%20worsen%20hearing%20with%20age

  5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508

  6. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24769-ototoxicity

  7. https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/hearing-and-balance/depression-and-hearing-loss/

  8. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/hearing-loss#:~:text=Even%20low%20levels%20of%20hearing,for%20processing%20sounds%20and%20memories

  9. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/tinnitus#:~:text=Hearing%20loss%2C%20which%20can%20be,are%20taken%20at%20high%20doses

  10. https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/treatment/index.html

  11. https://www.cdc.gov/hearing-loss-children/about/preventing-noise-induced-hearing-loss.html#:~:text=Avoid%20or%20limit%20exposure%20to,to%20a%20safe%20level5

4 Tips for Healthy Aging

Some say your senior years are the best years: your children are grown, grandchildren are in the picture, and you get to spend countless hours with your close friends doing the things you love. But you may be wondering, how can you stay healthy as you age so you can enjoy all these wonderful things?

What Can I Do?

Your health should always be a priority, no matter your age. However, older adults need to pay closer attention to their health to help them live a happy, healthy, independent life. Follow these healthy aging tips to help get you on the right track!

Get Vaccinated

Staying up to date on your vaccinations can help protect yourself and those around you from life-threatening disease and illness. Since older adults are more likely to get certain diseases, your pharmacist or doctor may recommend receiving specific vaccinations as you get older. Below are a few vaccines they might suggest: ¹

  • COVID-19
  • Flu (high-dose or adjuvanted)
  • RSV
  • Pneumococcal
  • Shingles

The vaccines you should receive depend on your age. Starting at age 50, it is suggested you receive a shingles vaccine to avoid painful rashes caused by the shingles virus. At age 60, getting your RSV vaccine can help protect you and your loved ones, especially babies and young children, from respiratory illness. Once you reach age 65, vaccinating against pneumococcal disease can help prevent pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections. ² It is also encouraged to get your flu shot every year, and your Td vaccine every 10 years once you’ve received your Tdap vaccine.

When you get vaccinated, you are protecting more than just yourself – you also help protect those around you! Those that have weakened immune systems or long-term health issues are often not able to receive the same vaccines as the rest of us. Doing your part and getting vaccinated can help protect them too.

 

Prioritize Physical Health

Staying active as you age is a great way to keep your body in good working order. Physical activity helps to increase mobility, prevent falls, and reduce the risk of certain diseases. Not only that, but it can give your brain a boost!

  • Endurance exercises like biking, dancing, and swimming help boost circulation and strengthen your heart and lungs. ³
  • Strength exercises like weightlifting or resistance band exercises work to keep your muscles strong. ³
  • Balance exercises like simply standing on one foot can help improve your coordination and build strength to help reduce the risk of falling. ³
  • Flexibility & stretching exercises like barre and yoga help keep you limber. ³

 

Other ways to keep your physical health in check are to drink less alcohol, prioritize sleep, quit the use of tobacco, and get regular health care checkups. ³

Focus on Mental Health

Mental health tends to deteriorate as we get older. Engaging your mind in challenging activities helps to keep your mind active and healthy and may even slow cognitive decline as you age.

  • Learn something new such as a new skill, game, or language. ³
  • Get out and about to visit somewhere new or somewhere you love.
  • Spend time on your hobbies like reading a book, knitting, cooking, or playing an instrument. ³

Another way to care for your mental health is to keep stress in check. Chronic stress can lead to brain and body damage, which may in turn make you more stressed. Find activities that help to decrease stress levels. Speaking up if you are overwhelmed or feeling down can help save a life. Reach out to friends, family, or an anonymous help line if you are struggling with your mental health. You are never alone!

 

Fuel Your Body

Eating foods that are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals help to keep your brain and body healthy. Nuts, vegetables, and fish are great foods to promote heart health and brain function. ³

Other things to focus on while developing a healthy diet include: ³

  • Prioritizing nutrient-rich foods
  • Limiting foods with unhealthy additives
  • Saying “yes” to fruits and vegetables
  • Watching your portion sizes

Sometimes, diet alone isn’t enough to fuel your body with what it needs. As we age, our bodies go through changes that can alter our nutritional needs, and many medications may increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies. ⁴ Some people may benefit from taking supplements to fill in those gaps. Talk to your pharmacist to see if any of these supplements are right for you. ⁴

  • Calcium: may be linked to healthy bone density and lessened bone loss
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: heart-healthy fats that may help fight inflammation
  • Collagen: may improve skin hydration and elasticity
  • Coenzyme Q10: aids in energy production
  • Vitamin D: may help with muscle mass, enhance immune function, and boost mood
  • B vitamins: aids in energy production, immune health, and brain function
  • Protein: may boost muscle mass and muscle function
  • Ginkgo biloba: may improve cognitive function
  • Saw palmetto: may support prostate health
  • Curcumin: helps boost healthy inflammation levels

Just because you are aging, does not mean you can put your health on the backburner. As you age, it is important to keep yourself healthy, inside and out! Getting vaccinated helps protect you and those around you, focusing on your physical and mental health helps keep you active, and fueling your body through diet and supplements may help boost your overall health. If you have any questions about vaccines, diet changes, supplement recommendations, or mental health, talk to our pharmacist!

Sources:

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