6 Habits for Healthy Ears at Any Age – AARP
Hearing aid life span is another factor to consider. According to Tejani, audiologists typically recommend replacing the devices every five to seven years, both because manufacturers may phase out support for older hearing aids and because new technology may offer advanced features. “That being said, there are patients who care for their devices so wel…….
Hearing aid life span is another factor to consider. According to Tejani, audiologists typically recommend replacing the devices every five to seven years, both because manufacturers may phase out support for older hearing aids and because new technology may offer advanced features. “That being said, there are patients who care for their devices so well that sometimes they don’t replace them after 10 years or so,” he says. “That is fine, as long as they are benefiting from their devices.”
3. Know the signs of tinnitus, vertigo
Along with age-related hearing loss, which affects an estimated 1 in 3 adults 65 and older, other ear-related conditions also become more common with age. These include tinnitus, which peaks in prevalence among adults ages 60 to 69 and causes ringing (or sounds like hissing, whooshing or buzzing) in the ears.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, the “vast majority” of tinnitus cases are caused by sensorineural hearing loss — that’s the kind responsible for age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis. While no cure for tinnitus currently exists, treatment options can help lessen its severity.
Another risk for older adults: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, which results in episodes of dizziness and is caused by the displacement of tiny calcium crystals found within the inner ear. “Under the age of 50 … the most common cause of displacement is head trauma,” Creed says. “Over 50, the most common cause is age-related changes to the utricle, or the organ where those tiny crystals live.”
Once you’ve had BPPV, Creed says a repeat episode becomes more likely. Fortunately, the condition can typically be treated with a series of head movements that reposition the crystals. Your audiologist or medical provider can perform this maneuver as a simple in-office procedure (don’t try it at home without first receiving a professional diagnosis and guidance, Creed warns).
4. Be aware of comorbidities and medications
Chronic conditions including sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease up your risk of hearing loss. If you’re at increased risk, your provider may recommend more frequent screenings to monitor your hearing, Creed says.
Some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the ear and result in permanent or temporary hearing loss, tinnitus or balance disorders. These include certain cancer chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics and loop diuretics. If you’re taking an ototoxic medication, discuss the potential for …….
Source: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2022/healthy-hearing-habits.html
