Sneaky Hearing Loss Symptoms You May Miss, Plus How To Sharpen Hearing and Reduce Dementia Risk
Plus get expert-backed tips to improve your hearing starting today
Key Takeaways
- Asking people to repeat themselves and avoiding loud places may be signs of hearing loss.
- Hearing screenings at age 40 can catch changes early and help protect your brain health.
- Experts say that diet, exercise and hearing protection may help preserve hearing as you age.
Roughly one-third of us will experience some degree of hearing loss by age 65, and that number climbs to 50 percent by our mid-70s, according to Harvard researchers. Fortunately, catching hearing loss symptoms early—and knowing exactly what to do about them—can protect your health for years to come. Keep reading for the sneaky warning signs you may have overlooked.
Common hearing loss symptoms
Hearing changes often creep in so gradually that we don’t notice. Many women simply create workarounds without realizing what’s happening, says Kara Houston, AuD, an audiologist with Rush University Medical Center. Common signs and symptoms of hearing loss include:
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Turning up the TV, phone or radio louder than you used to
- Struggling to hear from a distance or from behind
- Finding certain voices harder to understand than others
- Avoiding noisy restaurants because conversation feels like too much work
- Feeling frustrated—or noticing frustration from family—about missed words
Sneaky hearing loss symptoms you might not expect
Some hearing loss symptoms show up in surprising ways, especially when only one ear is affected.
Woman's World Answers
“The obvious symptom of unilateral hearing loss is that someone will struggle to hear out of one side,” says Patricia Gaffney, AuD, MPH, professor at Nova Southeastern University and a member of the American Academy of Audiology. “You might only notice this if you put your ear to the phone and can’t hear as well, or if you lay on a pillow with the affected ear up and notice it’s really quiet.”
Beyond that, Gaffney says to watch for these unexpected red flags:
- A feeling of fullness or clogging in the ear (called aural fullness)
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)
- Dizziness or light-headedness
Note: Sudden hearing loss in one ear is a red flag that warrants a prompt visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.
Causes of hearing loss
Hearing loss has many culprits. Gaffney says the most common include earwax buildup, middle ear infections, otosclerosis (abnormal bone growth in the middle ear, which often becomes noticeable in women in their mid-30s), acoustic neuromas (benign tumors on the nerve connecting the ear to the brain) and sensorineural hearing loss—the kind linked to loud noise exposure, certain immune disorders and family history.
Age plays a role in common types of hearing loss too, as does diabetes. The stakes are higher than missed conversations or trouble understanding someone: Research from Johns Hopkins University shows hearing loss is linked to a greater risk of dementia. “Hearing loss and the risk of dementia seem in proportion to each other,” explains otologist Justin S. Golub, MD, of Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Simple ways to treat hearing loss
The encouraging news? Small daily habits can make a real difference in improving your hearing health. Here’s what experts recommend.
Get a baseline hearing screening
“The number one thing people can do to protect their hearing is get a hearing screening,” says clinical audiologist Dawn Heiman, AuD. She suggests starting at age 40 so any changes can be tracked and addressed early.
Skip cotton swabs
Earwax blockage is one of the most common causes of muffled hearing. Heiman recommends over-the-counter ear drops made with hydrogen peroxide and mineral oil. Or try a home remedy from Heather Moday, MD: Place three to five drops of baby or mineral oil in the affected ear, wait 24 hours, then gently rinse with warm water from a bulb syringe.
Fill your plate with these foods
Sweet potatoes, carrots and other vitamin A–rich vegetables were linked to a 47 percent lower risk of hearing loss in a Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging study. Fatty fish like tuna cut risk by 42 percent, thanks to omega-3s that boost blood flow to the inner ear. Magnesium-rich smoothie ingredients—yogurt, bananas, berries—help dilate blood vessels. And folate, found in beans, eggs and broccoli, was tied to a 20 percent lower risk of hearing loss in adults over 60.
Practice listening with background noise
A Harvard study found that chatting with a loved one while the TV plays softly helped older adults tune out white noise and improved hearing by 25 percent.
Protect against loud sounds
Pop in earplugs before using a blow-dryer, mowing the lawn or attending a concert where you’ll be listening to music at loud volumes. “You can make easy decisions like this today that will have a big impact on your hearing 20 years from now,” Dr. Golub says.
Treat tinnitus
For people with hearing loss caused by tinnitus, 240 mg of ginkgo daily helped participants hear 40 percent more clearly in one German study (just check with your doctor first).
Move your body
University of Florida researchers found that exercise dramatically slowed age-related hearing loss, likely by boosting blood flow to the inner ear.
When to consider hearing aids
If home strategies aren’t quite enough to manage symptoms of hearing loss, an audiologist can help you explore hearing aids, including affordable options starting around $1,000 per pair at Costco Hearing Aid Centers. The sooner you address changes, the better you’ll protect not just your hearing but your memory, mood and connection to the people you love.
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