'when is the last time you had your hearing tested?': helpful hearing loss prevention tips from an audiologist
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dr. salima jiwani says pay attention to sound levels. if you’re going out to a loud venue, like a concert or basketball game, make sure to wear hearing protection.
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the most important thing to do for your hearing? get it tested, says dr. salima jiwani, a toronto audiologist, past president of the canadian academy of audiology, and founder of the audiosense hearing, balance and concussion clinic.
“just like we go to a doctor for general health checkups, the dentist, once a year or every six months for cleaning, the eye doctor every two years—we should be getting our hearing checked every two years as well,” she says, from birth to death.
“and that’s for everybody. i check my kids’ hearing every two years. i know they’re hearing, but i do all of the tests for hearing health and hearing loss. hearing loss is an invisible disability, and the brain is very efficient and likes to compensate.”
the brain compensates for hearing loss, so you may not be aware
most people often don’t know that they have hearing loss once it starts, until four to seven years after because the brain is so good at compensating for us. makes you think, right? when was the last time you were in a loud restaurant or bar and you felt like everybody else is hearing so well, but you’re struggling to really understand what’s being said because the noise is overwhelming? this is a very common problem that has to do with auditory processing and hearing loss.
also, dr. jiwani says that hearing loss, depending on the concern, doesn’t always mean you’ll need hearing aids. there are therapies that can strengthen the brain and improve auditory processing, like sound therapy apps, for example.
so early intervention through routine assessment is key.
don’t wait to let it get worse, either, because your hearing is going to continue to decrease if you’re not helping it, she adds, “not because hearing aids are magic or because the therapies are magic, but it’s because the therapies and the hearing aids really do focus on strengthening. it’s like a muscle. if you injure a muscle and you don’t work it, it’s not going to be strong anymore.”
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hearing loss linked to cognitive decline and dementia
that’s also problematic because of what can happen down the road. research shows that hearing loss is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. the 2024 lancet commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care identified hearing loss as one of 14 modifiable risk factors for dementia.
“we know that hearing is directly related to cognition. and you do want to take care of your brain.”
dr. jiwani’s devotion to hearing health began with her grandmother. the family was in kenya and her grandmother received her healthcare in the capital city of nairobi, but dr. jiwani says at there was a general lack of education and knowledge in audiology and hearing healthcare in general at the time. her grandmother developed hearing loss as a result of medication to cure an illness. one of the side effects was significant hearing loss in both ears that progressed from mild loss to profound hearing loss. “when her hearing loss became severe, one of the things that we as her family were never told is that there are a lot of different brands of hearing aids out there, but not every hearing aid is appropriate for every hearing loss.”
everyone’s brain is different and so is everyone’s hearing. “she was eventually deaf in both ears and she never received proper care.”
tips to protect your hearing also protect your brain
beyond testing every two years, what else should people do to protect their hearing?
pay attention to sound levels. if you’re going out to a loud venue, like a concert or basketball game, make sure to wear hearing protection. there are over-the-counter options or custom ones that you can get from an audiologist.
if you’re going to a music festival several days in a row or other longer event, give your ears a break by going to a quieter place to recharge.
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since covid, we’ve all embraced technology and remote work and there’s less done in person, says dr. jiwani. “now we’re having meetings on the phone and doing a lot of zoom calls, so give your ears a break.” step away from your phone or headset and allow your ears to have some quiet. as well, control the volume on your technology.
“now we’ve got a lot of these devices jammed in our ears, so make sure to limit the volume. if you’re in an elevator and somebody can hear the music through your airpods in that elevator, it’s too loud.”
she recommends using sound limiters or volume limiter features, along with noise cancelling headsets which are worth the investment if you’re going to listen to music or have to make a call in noisy environments.
as for cleaning that ear wax in your ears, don’t do it. ears are self-cleaning and need the inner ear substances to protect from debris. putting something like a q-tip into your ear only shoves the older wax further into your ear, putting you or your child in danger of ear infection. if ear wax is bothering you, see a healthcare provider for professional removal.
had a concussion? see an audiologist
another critical point from dr. jiwani is to see an audiologist right away if you’ve had a concussion from a car accident or blow to the head. sometimes, concussion can affect the auditory system or the vestibular system, which is balance, and audiologists work with both hearing and balance.
“it’s important to rule things out. if you have a blow to the head, they’re probably going to assess everything, like the eyes, the memory, the attention. but not the ears. it should be routine. we’re seeing a little bit more of that thankfully in our clinic.”
her best advice? she’d like to pose this one question to everyone: “when is the last time you had your hearing tested?”
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