Hearing well keeps you part of life
The voices of your loved ones, laughter in the middle of a conversation, your grandchild’s stories on the phone, a favorite song or birdsong… Hearing is one of the most important bridges connecting us to people and to life.
The good news is that there are more ways than ever to protect and support your hearing. With regular hearing checks, early and appropriate treatment when needed, and modern hearing technologies, you can stay part of the conversation and keep your mind active at every stage of life.
The ear hears, the brain understands
Our ears collect sounds; it is our brain that gives them meaning. When hearing is good, the brain decodes speech easily and can devote its energy to thinking, remembering and conversation. When hearing becomes weaker, the brain works harder to fill in the words it misses. Understanding can become more effortful, long conversations can feel tiring, and over time a person may start to withdraw from crowded places and conversations.
Around one in five people worldwide live with some degree of reduced hearing. In recent years, researchers have paid particular attention to the link between hearing and cognitive health:
- The Lancet Commission on dementia (2024) identified 14 modifiable risk factors that affect cognitive health; reduced hearing is among the most important of them. The Commission recommends making hearing aids accessible to everyone who needs them and protecting against harmful noise.
- In the ACHIEVE study (2023), 977 people aged 70–84 with reduced hearing were followed for three years. While no clear difference was seen in the group as a whole, among participants at higher risk, hearing support slowed changes in cognitive abilities by about half.
- A meta-analysis combining 31 studies found that hearing aid users had an approximately 20% lower risk of long-term decline in cognitive abilities.
These findings tell us that supporting hearing is not only about hearing better; it is also an important part of keeping the mind active and social life vibrant.
How does hearing change over the years?
The snail-shaped structure of the inner ear (the cochlea) contains thousands of tiny hair cells that convert sounds into nerve signals. Over the years, noise exposure, certain medications, cardiovascular health, diabetes and inherited traits can affect how these cells work.
This change usually progresses very slowly, and the high-pitched sounds are often affected first. That is why many people say, “I can hear, but I can’t understand”: the sound of speech comes through, but because some sounds are missed, words become blurred. Because the change is so gradual, it is often family members and friends, rather than the person themselves, who notice it first.
Not every change in hearing is related to the inner ear. Earwax, fluid in the middle ear, a hole in the eardrum, calcification of the eardrum or the ossicles, or other conditions involving the ossicles can also affect hearing. Many of these causes are treatable. That is why the first step is a thorough ear examination and a hearing test.
Important: Sudden hearing loss in one or both ears is an emergency. See an ENT specialist the same day. Starting treatment early is very important.
Signs you may notice
- Hearing speech but having difficulty understanding the words
- Difficulty following conversation in crowded or noisy places
- Often asking others to repeat what they said
- Turning up the TV louder than others around you
- Difficulty understanding phone conversations
- Finding women’s and children’s voices harder to understand
- Missing sounds such as the doorbell, the phone or alarms
- Feeling tired after long conversations
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Family members saying, “You’re not hearing me”
If you notice any of these, it is a good idea to see an ENT specialist for an examination and a hearing test.
What can be done?
The treatment plan is tailored to you, based on your examination findings, your hearing test results and your needs in daily life.
- Comprehensive ENT and hearing assessment: The ear canal and eardrum are examined endoscopically. Pure-tone audiometry shows how well you hear at different frequencies, and speech discrimination testing shows how clearly you understand words. Tympanometry assesses how the middle ear is working. Further tests are planned if needed.
- Treating correctable causes: Safe removal of earwax, treatment of middle ear fluid or infections and, when needed, eardrum or ossicle surgery often improve hearing significantly.
- Hearing aids: Today’s hearing aids are small, rechargeable smart devices that can connect to your phone. The right choice, personalized fitting and regular follow-up are the keys to getting the most out of them. It usually takes a few weeks for the brain to get used to clear sounds again.
- Cochlear implant: For advanced hearing loss where hearing aids do not provide enough benefit, this system placed in the inner ear stimulates the hearing nerve directly and significantly supports speech understanding. A cochlear implant can be considered at any stage of life for suitable candidates.
- Auditory rehabilitation: Listening exercises, supported communication techniques and communication tips for the family help speed up adjustment to newly heard sounds.
Daily tips to protect your hearing
- Have your hearing checked regularly: A hearing test can be a routine check, just like monitoring blood pressure or blood sugar.
- Protect yourself from noise: Use hearing protection in noisy places, at work or whenever you use machinery.
- Keep headphone volume low: When listening with headphones, keep the volume at no more than 60 percent and take breaks.
- Do not put cotton swabs in your ears: The ear cleans itself; a swab can push wax deeper and cause a blockage.
- Take care of your heart and blood vessels: The inner ear is supplied by very fine blood vessels; keeping blood pressure and blood sugar in balance and avoiding smoking also support hearing.
- Review your medications with your doctor: Some medications can affect the inner ear, so be informed and careful about this.
- Stay part of the conversation: Meet friends, listen to music and audiobooks; the brain’s listening skills grow stronger and stay young the more they are used.
- Make communication easier: Sit where you can see the speaker’s face and reduce background noise.
- Don’t forget your voice: Good hearing helps you adjust your voice correctly; hearing and voice health go hand in hand. See also Voice Strength and Vitality.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have a hearing test?
If you have no complaints, it is recommended to have one at regular intervals, especially from your 50s onward. If you notice a change in your hearing, have a test without waiting.
How is a hearing test done? Is it painful?
No. In a quiet room, you respond to different sounds and words through headphones. The test takes about 15–20 minutes.
Is there a link between hearing loss and dementia?
Research shows that reduced hearing is one of the modifiable risk factors that affect cognitive health. Supporting hearing is an important part of keeping the mind and social life active.
Will using a hearing aid make my ear “lazy”?
No. On the contrary, a hearing aid keeps the brain’s connection with sound alive. Postponing a hearing aid for a long time can make it harder to get used to clear sounds later.
Are hearing aids visible?
Today’s devices are very small; some models sit inside the ear canal and are almost invisible. Others sit at the entrance of the canal or behind the ear. In fact, it is more helpful to focus on what the device contributes to your hearing rather than how it looks.
Is ringing in the ears related to hearing?
Tinnitus is often seen together with a change in hearing. If the ringing is in one ear, starts suddenly or comes with dizziness, see a doctor without delay.
Who is a candidate for a cochlear implant?
People with advanced sensorineural hearing loss who cannot understand speech well enough despite hearing aids. Candidacy is determined only after detailed testing.
If you have noticed a change in your hearing, or if it has been a long time since your last hearing test, contact us for a comprehensive ear examination and hearing assessment.
The information on this page is for general guidance only; an examination is needed for an individual diagnosis and treatment plan.