There’s a joke about growing older that you might have heard…

“When men get older, they lose the ability to hear higher pitches. And when women get older, they lose the ability to hear lower pitches…

And that’s how married couples stay happy for decades – they can’t hear each other complain!”

Now, this joke might not be completely accurate, but there’s one thing for sure…

As you age, your chances of hearing loss become greater and greater…

And it’s not only high or low pitches that are affected – your whole spectrum of hearing gets worse.

If you’re like most people, then you have probably already accepted that your hearing will deteriorate as you go up in the years, but I’ve got some news for you…

It doesn’t have to be that way.

That’s because your ears can be protected from many of the environmental dangers and activities that are known to cause damage…

And today I’m going to let you in on a few of the most common hearing loss causes and what you can do to stop them.

I’m sure you know all about this first cause of hearing deterioration…

Turn Up The Volume!

Ok, I’m going to take a stab in the dark and guess that you don’t spend too much time going to heavy metal concerts (and if you do, that’s perfectly ok – just check out my tip later)…

But that doesn’t mean that you aren’t exposed to loud noises on a regular basis.

It’s estimated that over 1 BILLION people suffer from some form of hearing loss…

And noise is thought to cause half of those cases.

But it’s not just Metallica and Iron Maiden pounding on your eardrums – noise damage comes in a wide range of forms, including

• Using headphones
• Listening to music too loudly in the car
• Explosions from gunshots or fireworks
• Working with loud heavy machinery
• Large, packed crowds like sporting events

All of these situations (and many more similar ones) can damage your inner ear’s hair cells…

And it’s these cells that are responsible for you ability to hear. Not only that, but once damaged…

They don’t grow back!

Fortunately, there is something you can do about noisy atmospheres…

My Loud Noise Solution

This is going to be obvious, but if you know you’ll be in a situation with a danger of loud noise, the best thing you can do is be prepared…

And preparation means having disposable earplugs at the ready when you need them.

What I do is buy a big jar of earplugs (they’re very cheap) and then put them in various places (at home, at the office, in the car, etc.) that gives me easy access whenever I might need them.

Now, I know there’s a social stigma to wearing earplugs at concerts and other events, but let me ask you this…

Isn’t it worth a tiny bit of social awkwardness to protect your hearing well into old age?

I can’t answer for you, but for me, that’s a resounding YES!

Speaking of social stigmas, I’m going to go ahead and get another potential hearing loss cause out of the way…

Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em!

Yep, that’s right.

In addition to all the other health problems that smoking cigarettes can create, it also contributes to hearing loss.

It may sound weird that smoking and hearing loss are linked, but there is clear science behind the connection…

You see, the nicotine in cigarettes causes tinnitus, but that’s not the only problem…

It also clogs up the lining in your middle ear as well as your Eustachian tube, which makes it harder to hear. And smoking reduces blood flow to your ears, thus starving those inner ear hair cells and causing them to deteriorate at a much more rapid rate.

And all these effects add up to hearing problems that get worse every year.

I don’t think I have to explain my remedy for smoking-related hearing loss as you likely already know the answer…

If you smoke cigarettes, please consider quitting – your ears, your heart, your lungs, and your entire body will be better off and you’ll be taking a big step towards a healthier life.

Quitting smoking for good isn’t easy, but there are other hearing loss causes where making even a tiny change can have a big benefit, such as…

Is My Diet Related To My Hearing Loss?

Just to say it upfront, there are not any specific foods that cause hearing loss…

However, the truth is that not getting the right vitamins and minerals in your diet can lead to hearing damage…

And I’m talking specifically about folic acid and vitamin B-12 – when you have a deficiency in these components, it can cause your hearing to go down by up to 39%…

This means that if you’re low on folic acid and vitamin B-12, you’ll want to start adding them into your diet to prevent hearing loss and create another layer of protection.

I’m not going to recommend any major diet changes here, just a few subtle things you can do to increase your intake of these key vitamins and minerals…

My Diet Tips To Prevent Hearing Loss

We’ll start with folic acid…

You probably know about folic acid by its importance in the diet of pregnant women, but its contributions to healthy ears are almost as important.

These are a few of my favorite foods that are high in folic acid:

• Asparagus
• Oranges and lemons
• Leafy green vegetables like spinach
• Whole grain breads and pastas
• Walnuts

And for vitamin B-12, here’s some ingredients that will make a major difference:

• Clams
• Fish such as trout, salmon, and tuna
• Beef (especially beef liver)
• Dairy products like yogurt and milk
• Eggs

Taking the right steps to maintain excellent hearing is about more than just being healthy…

It’s a way to ensure that as you age, you’re still able to enjoy everything from having conversations with loved ones to even attending heavy metal concerts if that’s your preferred form of entertainment.

Keep in mind how you can protect your hearing from environmental dangers and you’ll be able to preserve your hearing for the rest of your life!

As we get old, we don’t only get hearing loss, but a lot of damage to our brains too. So, if you’re looking to keep sharp in your senior years, then I recommend you…