April 18, 2025
Millions of seniors deal with hearing loss. Losing even a little bit of hearing is associated with all sorts of complications, including an increased risk of developing dementia. It’s easy to assume that hearing loss is just a normal part of aging and that all seniors might experience hearing loss, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things that families and seniors can do that can help to prevent at least a little bit of hearing loss for seniors. Senior home care providers can also offer assistance, particularly with routines that help protect senior hearing.
There are some medications that can contribute to hearing loss over time as seniors continue to take them. If seniors take these medications regularly, they need to be alert for changes in their hearing. Some examples of medications to pay attention to include NSAIDS, some antibiotics, some blood pressure medications, and aspirin. Regular hearing testing can help seniors stay aware of what changes are occurring.
Chronic health conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes can also affect hearing in a negative way. One of the best ways for seniors to make sure that these health issues don’t contribute to hearing loss is to keep chronic health issues under better control as much as possible. Senior home care providers can help seniors stick to routines that support their health, including eating healthier meals regularly and adopting exercise habits if their doctors agree that’s safe.
Exposure to loud noises can lead directly to hearing loss. Often the damage seniors experience that affects hearing loss occurs earlier in life, but any damage is a potential problem. Using noise-canceling headsets or ear plugs can do quite a lot to protect hearing around loud noises. Avoiding situations that are likely to include loud noises might not always be possible, so having these devices in a pocket is a good idea. Senior home care providers can also remind seniors to use these items when necessary.
There are other risk factors for hearing loss that might be surprising to aging adults. Smoking, for example, can increase the risk of losing hearing. Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke and nicotine both lower oxygen levels in the blood. They also cause blood vessels everywhere in the body to constrict, or get smaller. When that happens, the inner ear doesn’t work as well as it should. Smoking also affects how the brain interprets sounds from the ear, possibly changing how that input is translated. Quitting smoking doesn’t repair hearing loss immediately, but seniors can see improvements more quickly than they expect.
Protecting seniors from hearing loss has a direct effect on their overall quality of life. Senior home care providers can work with seniors and family caregivers to figure out how to best support aging adults in protecting their hearing. Making even small changes can offer big results, keeping seniors from experiencing the problems that come along with hearing loss.
