Submitted by Sound Choice Hearing Clinic
There are hundreds of benefits from daily exercise. We know that daily aerobic exercise improves brain function, helps maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, helps regulate insulin levels, and slows aging. Just as a healthy body is fostered through proper nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, and good hygienic practices, so is the ability to hear well. Good hearing enables us to effortlessly communicate with others throughout our lives.
What can affect hearing health? Lack of adequate aerobic exercise, obesity, poor nutrition, cardiovascular problems, smoking, noise exposure, frequent use of pain relievers, and exposure to organic solvents have all been associated with a higher risk for hearing loss.
There are actions people can take that can help maintain the ability to process and understand speech when communicating with others.
For example, people who regularly play musical instruments maintain their ability to better process and understand the sounds they hear in daily communication.
The following list of healthy hearing practices may help prevent or reduce hearing loss in adults and children and help maintain hearing fitness:
- Sustain aerobic exercise for at least 20 to 30 minutes five days a week.
- Eat five vegetable/fruit servings per day for adequate nutrition.
- Maintain normal weight.
- Eliminate smoking and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.
- Reduce frequent use of over-the-counter pain relievers, including ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
- Reduce the intensity and length of exposure to loud music and replace stock earbuds with noise cancelling or noise-reduction earphones or earbuds.
- Wear hearing protection when exposed to noise at work, at home, or during recreational activities and events.
- Reduce exposure to organic solvents such as toluene, styrene, or xylene as the combined exposure with noise increases the risk of hearing loss. Organic solvents are often found in aerosol sprays, paint products, dry cleaning fluid, or insect repellents.
- Do not purchase loud toys for children.
Just as annual health checkups are important to maintain physical health, annual hearing checkups are essential. Unfortunately, many people do not get annual hearing tests. This may be one of the reasons hearing loss is often untreated.
Untreated hearing loss is associated with decreased household income, mental decline, depression, social isolation, and quality of life. In addition, people with even a mild hearing loss are nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling compared to people with normal hearing. If you have a hearing loss, an audiologist will help you get the appropriate treatment to help you hear better. Good health, which includes hearing, enables a person to experience and enjoy life to its fullest.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Sound Choice Hearing Clinic at 309-347-0500 or visit them online at www.soundchoicehearingclinic.com. Their doctors of audiology provide comprehensive and cost-effective hearing healthcare which educates, informs, and benefits their patients.