As we age, our hearing worsens.
But let's not get selective hearing confused with hearing loss. If your husband only chooses to hear what's for dinner and not about the awful experience you had at the shopping mall, then you've got a different problem on your hands.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1 in 3 people in the U.S. between the ages of 65 and 74 suffer from hearing loss.
Most times, they don't know they have it until people start pressuring them into getting digital hearing aids.
Are you surprised by these figures? Probably not. In fact, I'm surprised this figure isn't higher.
Every single one of my friends and their family members have suffered some form of age-related hearing impairment.
Most times, they don't know they have it until people start pressuring them into getting hearing aids.
Aside from how much hearing aids cramp your style, they're quite costly. Typically, these devices are worth upwards of $1,000.
If you want to get a high quality hearing aid, you'll have to save up thousands of more dollars.
It's ridiculous, and most health insurance companies won't cover that cost!
Here are 5 simple ways to improve your hearing without having to shake out your wallet!
1. Practice locating sounds
Creating your own hearing exercises doesn't require you to take extra time out of your day. You just have to be mindful of your surroundings.
I practice finding sounds every day. You can do this by turning on music, the radio, and your TV all at the same time when you're at home, or you can go to a busy place like the shopping mall and focus on locating certain sounds there.
Just close your eyes and pinpoint the footsteps, the background music, the sounds of the vending machine, a conversation, and anything else that you may hear in the environment you're in.
That will strengthen your hearing skills in no time! Plus, it's kind of fun.
2. Clean your ears
My dad suffered from earwax blockage for years, which he attributed to his hearing loss.
Sticking a cotton-tipped swab in your ears is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to improve your hearing.
Instead, talk to your doctor to get excess earwax flushed safely and properly before you run into more problems.
3. Keep your mind sharp
Brain games are not only fun, but also help to improve your hearing.
The brain plays an important role in how you process sound, so you want to make sure that you're keeping your brain healthy and working efficiently.
Solving puzzles, word searches, and learning a new language are just a few ways that will help your brain stay sharp.
4. Eat these foods
There's no specific food that will dramatically improve your healing, but it's believed that some minerals will protect your healing health.
According to the National Campaign for Better Hearing, you need to add more potassium-rich foods, folic acid, magnesium, zinc, and omega 3 fats in your diet.
"If you eat a healthy, balance diet, your body should produce enough of these essential minerals to keep it functioning normally, but always check with your physician before consuming these in the form of supplements," they added.
Do you suffer from hearing loss?
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