Hearing loss can range anywhere from an annoyance, to a large nuisance, to a serious detriment to your day-to-day life.
And while the hearing-disabled have often had to deal with little to no hearing for their entire lives — like this little boy who uses a superhero hearing aid — many others experience varying levels of hearing difficulty.
In fact, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, "Of American adults, 37.5 million aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing."
Fortunately for those experiencing minor trouble hearing, there are quite a few simple hacks that can make things easier!
Scroll through below for an exclusive list of tips that might be able to help you improve your hearing.
I had no idea about any of these — who knew that one ear was better for hearing music while the other was better for listening to conversation?
As someone who has to say "What?" far more than I care to admit, I can't wait to try these out. It can't hurt, and hopefully it will help!
Which of these hearing hacks work for you? Do you have any other hearing hacks that have helped? Let us know in the comments.
Hack #1: Turn Your Right Ear To Hear Speech
In an ideal world, you would use both of your ears for maximum hearing. But if there is a large amount of background noise, or you need to lean in to hear better, it actually does matter which ear you use.
If you are trying to hear someone who is talking, lean in with your right ear. The right side will help you to better hear speech.
Hack #2: Turn Your Left Ear To Hear Music
Similarly, it also makes a difference which ear you use if you are trying to listen to music.
Turn the left side of your head to the music, or lean in with your left ear. This can help cut through the background noise to focus on the tune you are straining to hear.
Hack #3: Exercise Your Hearing
There are quite a few exercises you can do to improve the quality of your hearing!
Exercise One: Close your eyes and practice focusing in on the sound that is furthest away. Then shift your attention, one at a time, to each of the other sounds you hear.
Exercise Two: Practice having conversations with low amounts of background noise. Turn on the radio and strike up a conversation with a loved one. Try to tune into the conversation and tune out the music.
Exercise Three: Close your eyes and have a friend move about the room, periodically clapping or making noise. Try to determine exactly where they are, and how far away they are from you.
Hack #4: Have Conversations Face To Face
According to the UCSF Medical Center, facing your partner will go a long way to improving how much of the conversation you are able to hear.
They recommend talking face to face, "on the same level and in good light whenever possible. Position yourself so that the light is shining on the speaker's face."
Having a visual to accompany the audio is a great hack for understanding more of any conversation.
Hack #5: Pause And Think
If you suffer from hearing loss, it might become habit to quickly say "What?" anytime something doesn't register. However, experts actually recommend pausing and thinking before you do.
If you pause for a moment, you will often find that your brain is able to fill in any small blanks, using context clues.
Don't use "what?" as a crutch. Build the habit of filling in the blanks yourself whenever possible.
Hack #6: Keep Your Ears Clear
According to Bottom Line Health, you can notice a hearing loss of up to 40 decibels if earwax is blocking your ear canal. They go on to say that "about one in 20 American adults suffer from impacted earwax."
This direct correlation between wax and hearing ability makes it crucial that you keep your ears clear.
You can use a bulb syringe for an irrigation technique, or even an ear candle to remove excess wax.
The important thing to remember is to always be gentle, and to consult a doctor if you ever have any questions or need more earwax-removal tips.
Hack #7: Download An App
There are quite a few phone apps out there that can actually check your level of hearing loss. This can help you to determine if your hearing appears to be improving or deteriorating, or if you need to visit your doctor.
A couple of good apps are Sound √ and uHear, though there are plenty of different ones on the market — many of them free!
There are also apps that will amplify the speaker, making it easier to hear your phone calls.
Hack #8: Put Your Back Against The Wall
Whenever possible during a conversation, sit with your back against a wall. This is especially helpful in a crowded or noisy restaurant.
The wall behind you will prevent ambient noise from seeping in from directly behind you, helping you to focus on the speaker in front of you.
The wall will also help sound waves to bounce back, as opposed to allowing them to dissipate.
Hack #9: Stay Social
One of the unpleasant side effects of losing your hearing is that it sometimes makes you want to be antisocial. But this can actually make things worse.
It is extremely important to stay as social as possible, whether in one-on-one or small group settings. The hearing practice that comes from being around others will keep your mind sharp and your hearing muscles more on point.
Hack #10: Use Your Speakerphone
Answering phone calls with speakerphone or headphones can go a long way to improving how well you hear the person on the other end.
Headphones are great because they pump the sound directly into your ear, while simultaneously blocking other noise around you.
And Starkey Hearing Technologies writes, "When possible, take phone calls using the speakerphone feature on your phone. Again, two ears are better than one!"
These 10 simple hacks can make a huge difference in the lives of those who are experiencing mild to moderate hearing loss.
Also, if you are ever concerned about your hearing or your ear health, you should make an appointment with your doctor.
Which of these hearing hacks will you be trying? Let us know in the comments.
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