Hearing loss is a traumatic experience that can lead to social isolation and difficulties functioning in daily life. Yet approximately one in seven Americans live with this reality. It has led many to wonder how to improve their hearing naturally.
While some types of hearing loss may benefit from natural treatment methods, the best way to improve hearing is to invest in state-of-the-art hearing aids from a reputable manufacturer.
If you are wondering how to reverse hearing loss naturally, these are the details you need to know including some home remedies for hearing improvement.
Hearing loss comes in three different forms:
Generally, it is impossible to restore hearing naturally in the case of sensorineural hearing loss. Conductive and mixed hearing impairments, on the other hand, are conditions that may benefit from natural ways to improve hearing.
So, what are the most common reasons someone may experience a temporary or permanent hearing loss?
Hearing problems can be caused by:
If you need to improve hearing naturally due to an impairment, it is essential to visit an audiologist and receive a formal hearing test. This will tell you more about your type of hearing loss and different treatment options.
Can you cure hearing loss naturally? While there is anecdotal evidence to support natural ways to improve hearing, only a limited amount of clinical evidence exists. The FDA has not endorsed any natural treatments to improve hearing naturally.
For this reason, hearing aids are still the best solution for all types of hearing loss, as they can be programmed to fit your unique hearing profile.
However, you do need to take the time to visit a licensed audiologist who can carry out a hearing test. Testing is necessary to diagnose your exact form of hearing loss and to program your new hearing aids properly.
Comprehending sounds is as much about the brain as it is about the ears. One of the techniques for improving your hearing is to indulge in daily hearing exercises.
Patients can improve their hearing comprehension by using apps to exercise the brain. There are apps designed for both adults and children. Many of these resources are also geared towards specific types of hearing loss.
Low-tech hearing exercises include:
Professionals often incorporate hearing exercises to naturally restore hearing and enable hearing aid wearers to adjust and adapt to their new hearing devices.
There is also a certain amount of evidence that sound therapy and audio training may limit the symptoms of tinnitus. If you are suffering from tinnitus, incorporating similar exercises into your schedule could suppress many of the most irritating symptoms.
When searching for information on how to restore hearing loss naturally without a hearing aid, don’t dismiss vitamins and supplements. There is limited evidence to show that one of the ways to achieve better hearing naturally is to incorporate certain supplements into your diet.
For example, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that two servings of fish oil per week could reduce the chances of experiencing age-related hearing loss by up to 42%.
Other studies have further shown a potential connection between reduced hearing loss by consuming magnesium, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, and E.
However, studies on taking supplements as a natural remedy for hearing loss are limited, and the evidence focuses on reducing the chances of hearing loss, rather than restoring existing hearing loss.
How to restore hearing loss naturally? Perhaps the easiest way to do so is to simply clean your ears. Conductive hearing loss occurs due to obstructions and infections in the outer and middle ears. As such, regularly cleaning your ears reduces the risk of experiencing obstructions and contracting infections.
Never use a cotton swab or any other implement that you stick into your ear to clean the canal. Your body naturally removes ear wax, and external tools have the potential to damage both the ear canal and the eardrum.
Simply clean the outside of your ear with a wet cloth. If you have too much ear wax, visit the doctor’s office and have them clean your ears cleaned by a medical professional.
In the same vein as vitamins and supplements, some research has shown that improving your diet could reduce the risk of experiencing age-related hearing loss.
Figuring out how to improve hearing loss naturally through diet isn’t always easy. Generally, foods filled with omega-3s, and antioxidants could be beneficial, such as:
The best diet you can adopt for healthy hearing is the one that benefits the rest of your body, too. Limiting processed foods, saturated fats, and large amounts of sugar may reduce your chances of hearing loss.
It is a fact that a lack of blood flow to the ears can diminish your hearing. One option for improving hearing without a hearing aid is to incorporate regular exercise into your day. Exercise improves blood flow, which the ears rely on for oxygen and nutrients.
So, it makes sense that there is a growing body of evidence that exercise, from gentle yoga to weightlifting, can reduce your chances of experiencing hearing loss.
Meditation is a viable solution for improving your hearing for two reasons. First, studies have shown that meditation helps the body relax, enhancing blood flow to the brain.
Second, when you meditate, you can also incorporate sound isolation techniques into your practice. Meditation increases your awareness and allows you to think more clearly. Concentrating on the sounds around you will improve your hearing and train your mind will learn to focus on your auditory surroundings.
While meditation will not restore your hearing, it will train your brain to recognize specific sounds and improve comprehension.
While it may not be possible to restore your hearing once hearing loss sets in, you can take preventative measures to improve your ear health and reduce the chances of hearing loss onset. Although anecdotal evidence does support some of the above strategies, ultimately, the answer to “how to get better hearing” is a hearing aid.
Modern hearing aids incorporate state-of-the-art technology and can treat hearing loss more effectively than at any other time in history.
Begin your journey to better hearing by scheduling a hearing test online with EarPros. Contact us, and we can book your appointment with a licensed audiologist in your area.
