6 Habits for Healthy Ears at Any Age

3. Know the signs of tinnitus, vertigo

Along with age-related hearing loss, which affects an estimated 1 in 3 adults 65 and older, other ear-related conditions also become more common with age. These include tinnitus, which peaks in prevalence among adults ages 60 to 69 and causes ringing (or sounds like hissing, whooshing or buzzing) in the ears.

According to the American Tinnitus Association, the “vast majority” of tinnitus cases are caused by sensorineural hearing loss — that’s the kind responsible for age-related hearing loss, or presbycusis. While no cure for tinnitus currently exists, treatment options can help lessen its severity.

Another risk for older adults: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, which results in episodes of dizziness and is caused by the displacement of tiny calcium crystals found within the inner ear. “Under the age of 50 … the most common cause of displacement is head trauma,” Creed says. “Over 50, the most common cause is age-related changes to the utricle, or the organ where those tiny crystals live.”

Once you’ve had BPPV, Creed says a repeat episode becomes more likely. Fortunately, the condition can typically be treated with a series of head movements that reposition the crystals. Your audiologist or medical provider can perform this maneuver as a simple in-office procedure (don’t try it at home without first receiving a professional diagnosis and guidance, Creed warns).

4. Be aware of comorbidities and medications

Chronic conditions including sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease up your risk of hearing loss. If you’re at increased risk, your provider may recommend more frequent screenings to monitor your hearing, Creed says.

Some medications are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the ear and result in permanent or temporary hearing loss, tinnitus or balance disorders. These include certain cancer chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics and loop diuretics. If you’re taking an ototoxic medication, discuss the potential for hearing damage with your doctor. A baseline hearing and balance test before you start treatment, as well as periodic hearing tests during treatment, are recommended by ASHA.

5. Mind your earwax

If you’ve noticed changes to your earwax with age, you’re not imagining things. The waxy, protective substance that coats the ear canal actually gets drier and harder as we get older, which can lead to problems with excess buildup or blockages that result in symptoms like hearing loss, ringing in the ear or a sensation of fullness.

If you suspect you have excess or impacted earwax, your general practitioner (or, in more severe cases, an otolaryngologist) can use a few different methods to safely clear out your canals. Buildup or not, Creed cautions that cotton swabs and other implements like bobby pins should never be inserted into the ear — doing so can cause damage and push wax farther into the canals. As a general rule, “nothing smaller than your elbow should go in your ear,” she says.

6. Wear ear protection

Whether or not you have hearing loss, experts say that protecting your ears during noisy activities — think concerts, sporting events or even mowing the lawn — is always a good idea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 30 to 50 percent of hair cells in the inner ear responsible for hearing may be permanently damaged or destroyed before hearing loss becomes evident on a hearing test. That means the best time to get in the habit of using ear protection is before you notice hearing loss in the first place. Tejani recommends disposable foam earplugs as an inexpensive, accessible way to safeguard your hearing (he wears them himself on flights). “It’s never too soon to protect your hearing,” he says.

Sarah Elizabeth Adler joined aarp.org as a writer in 2018. Her pieces on science, art and culture have appeared in The Atlantic, where she was previously an editorial fellow, California magazine and elsewhere.