Photo by Mark PatonOriginally Posted On: https://www.blueangelshearing.com/blogs/news/do-hearing-aids-lessen-the-speed-of-further-hearing-loss
It would be great if we could say yes, you can preserve your hearing if you purchase hearing aids from us. However, we have to say our behind the ear aids cannot prevent you from suffering further deafness. No hearing aid can, because what they do is improve the quality of sound you can still hear.
However, there are many other benefits that hearing aids achieve by helping you hear better. You’ll enjoy dining out in company again. You might never need to say ‘what’s that’ again. There’s also evidence of improved brain function due to hearing aids capacity to strengthen hearing.
Hearing Loss and Factors Causing It
Bad Hearing as an Inherited Condition
Partial or total hearing loss may be something we receive at birth. We may inherit a defective gene causing our bad hearing. Alternatively, something may happen during the perinatal period immediately before and after birth.
Hearing Loss Due to Trauma
We may also have a medical condition causing hearing loss, for example high blood pressure, or diabetes and so on. However, we may also be born with regular hearing, but have an adverse reaction to medication or harmful chemicals such as during chemotherapy. Sudden decompression while flying can perforate ear drums too.
Deafness Developing Over Time
The most likely cause of increasing deafness is the passage of time. The onset may be due to long exposure to excessive noise. But it’s most likely to be gradual changes occurring along the nerves from the ear to the brain.
Could We Prevent or Slow our Age-Related Hearing Loss
The U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) confirms hearing gradually deteriorates in most of us as we age. How often don’t we say ‘I wish I could improve my hearing naturally’, or ‘why won’t people just speak clearly’.
While behind the ear hearing aids can’t make hearing worse when used properly, scientists don’t have clear answers for preventing age-related hearing loss. They do, however recommend staying away from loud, potentially damaging sounds. If you must use a leaf blower, they say at least use ear muffs too.
Dietary Life Style Changes to Consider
The U.S. National Library of Medicine published a post on the interplay between nutrition and hearing loss on December 24, 2018. However, this was not a Christmas bonanza because they could only ‘peer through darkened glass’.
This was because they could not ethically experiment with humans to see if they could preserve their hearing. Therefore, they could only make intelligent guesses about foods that might help strengthen hearing.
Hearing Loss Has a Profound Effect of Life Quality
Bad hearing has several unfortunate consequences. These include loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, and frustration according to researchers at San Pablo University.
However, almost 60% of hearing difficulties could be prevented through public health measures, and timely rubella, mumps, measles, and meningitis vaccinations. Moreover, exposure to heavy metals like lead and cadmium, obesity, and lack of exercise can worsen this situation.
Vitamins, Calorie Restriction and Loss of Hearing
The researchers decided to focus their attention on calories in diets, and macronutrient and micronutrient food sources. They knew hearing aids could not make hearing worse, but could the right diet improve hearing, they wondered.
They knew that various experiments involving apes and small mammals had shown that caloric reductions reduced the occurrence of obesity, diabetes, and tumors in these creatures. There were also positive indications regarding neurodegenerative diseases.
Early studies had shown similar benefits for humans in terms of cholesterol levels, blood pressure, oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance.
However, they did not fully understand the mechanisms behind this. But they did discern the following:
1… Micronutrient vitamins have anti-oxidant properties that could help preserve hearing, and promote the proper functioning of the human ear
2… Diets rich in carbohydrates such as found in sugars and concentrated sweets may play a marginal role in hearing loss.
Conclusions Drawn by the Research Team
The researchers at San Pablo University decided that “nutritional status plays an important role in the maintenance of the auditory capacity”.
They thought calorie restrictions had a role, although they were more interested in the contributions of fatty acids, dietary antioxidants, Vitamin A, and certain minerals such as iodine. The researchers closed with a comment on the high economic impact of bad hearing, and the need to implement preventative measures.
How to Improve Your Hearing Now for Under $200
We have to leave it there for now, because we are not health professionals, and we may not express medical opinions. We may not be able to preserve your hearing with our behind the ear hearing aids. However, we could improve your hearing considerably with a pair of hearing aids costing under $200, including free shipping to your address.
