Hearing loss is one of the most common results of aging. Gradually throughout the years, your inner and outer ear change and affect the ability to properly hear.

The effect hearing has on your personal life can be devastating: Personal relationships can be jeopardized, your ability to converse with strangers is affected, and hearing loss has been linked to signs of depression. Many natural options can boost your hearing ability now and help with the effects of age-related hearing loss.

If you have any questions regarding treatments for hearing loss, contact the professionals at Associated Audiologists.

Vitamin A substantially improves hearing function

Vitamin A plays a preventive and regenerative role in age-related hearing loss, just as experiencing a vitamin A deficiency can decrease the number of sensory cells in the inner ear.  

This vitamin has been shown to reduce the risk of moderate to severe hearing loss by nearly 50 percent in individuals over the age of 50.

Large quantities of vitamin A can be found in orange foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, and squash, as well as liver and leafy greens.

Zinc prevents the impact of sudden hearing loss

Research indicates that zinc has many immune boosting, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in preventing and managing hearing loss caused by sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). Zinc helps reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea that is present in individuals suffering from SSHL. Higher levels of zinc in the blood were positively correlated with expedited recovery periods and better quality of hearing.

Zinc has been used as a supplemental treatment for tinnitus, which is a condition that can be formed from age-related hearing loss. After a daily regimen of zinc intake for two months, the symptoms of tinnitus were significantly reduced in 82 percent of the subjects tested.

Zinc is found in beef, spinach, flax seeds, watermelon, and eggs.

Omega-3 fatty acids have beneficial oxidative properties

Increasing your intake of omega-3s helps promote a healthy heart and brain; it can also reduce your risk of developing age-related hearing loss symptoms.

Plaque in your arteries, heart complications, and diabetes all restrict blood flow throughout the body. The absence of adequate blood flow to the ears may result in the loss or damaging of vital sensory cells that aid in sending signals to the brain to process sounds. Omega-3s have been shown to decrease the rate of plaque formation in the arteries, which in turn decreases the risk of hearing loss, heart attacks, strokes, and many serious conditions.

Eating two servings of fish per week can reduce your risk of developing age-related hearing loss by 42 percent. Other foods containing high levels of omega-3 fatty acids include soybeans, spinach, eggs, soy milk, yogurt, and walnuts.

Magnesium reduces noise-induced hearing loss

Magnesium has continuously proven its effectiveness in reducing incidences of temporary and permanent loss from noise exposure. Loud noise impairs the blood flow to the cochlea. Magnesium improves blood flow to the cochlea by expanding the blood vessels and improving circulation. The increased circulation provides the necessary blood to maintain healthy sensory cells in the inner ear.

One study provided military recruits who were subject to a high-level noise environment (guns, airplane motors) with magnesium supplements for two months. The study found that magnesium significantly reduced hearing loss in individuals who received the supplement every day.

Magnesium is found in whole grains, fish, leafy greens, nuts, and beans.

Although studies have linked these supplements to improved hearing, no single dietary supplement has been scientifically proven to protect or restore your hearing. Before taking any of these supplements, check with your doctor to make sure they do not interfere with other medications you may be taking.

Associated Audiologists does not prescribe supplements for hearing loss. Our expertise is in diagnosing and treating hearing loss with state-of-the-art technology. If you would like to know more about preventing and treating hearing loss, Associated Audiologists has doctoral-level audiologists who can help. Contact us today to discuss your treatment options.

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