Eat Well for
Healthy Hearing
You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘you are what you eat’. While that may not be entirely true, the foods you consume can have a positive effect on your hearing. Studies indicate foods rich in certain nutrients can help boost your hearing. In some cases, they may even help prevent or delay hearing loss.
Omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines, contain anti-inflammatory properties that help strengthen the blood vessels in the inner ear, helping protect against hearing loss. Research shows that individuals who eat two or more servings of fish a week are 42% less likely to develop presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) compared with those who do not eat fish regularly.

Antioxidants are another excellent source of protection from hearing loss, particularly folic acid. They help reduce the number of damage-causing free radicals in your body, and ultimately help prevent hearing loss. Good sources of folic acid include leafy greens such as spinach and romaine lettuce, blackeyed peas, kidney beans and black beans, and nuts. Persons over the age of 50 with a folate deficiency have a 35% higher risk of hearing loss. Vitamin B12 works similarly; like folic acid, it creates new red blood cells and improves the flow of blood to the ears. Foods high in B12 include lean meats, dairy and eggs. Clams, liver and fish are especially high in this nutrient. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and is plentiful in citrus fruits and vegetables. Excellent choices include oranges, grapefruit and bell peppers. Vitamin E helps improve circulation and can be found in almonds, peanut butter and sunflower oil. Vitamin D keeps the bones and tissue in the inner ear healthy, preventing bone loss and otosclerosis; good sources are fish and milk.

Zinc is another nutrient that can help protect against age-related hearing loss. It can be found in dark chocolate and oysters, among other foods. Magnesium may prevent noise-induced hearing loss. Look for it in bananas, potatoes, artichokes and broccoli. While there’s no guarantee that consuming these foods will keep you from developing hearing loss, including them as part of your diet will help improve your overall health
regardless.
Hearing and Cognition
Many of us take hearing for granted, but humans are unique in the way we interpret noises from our environment: we are able to utilize cognitive processes (knowledge, memory and intelligence) with the sensory input we receive. This allows us to communicate, learn and share thoughts and ideas.

When treating hearing loss, audiologists’ understanding of the interaction between hearing and cognition plays a crucial role in providing patients with a reliable and effective solution. Our peripheral and central nervous systems extract and interpret information from multiple, competing sounds in our listening environment, assigning meaning to what might otherwise be considered background clutter. When you suffer from hearing loss, your ability to gauge the meaning of a sound that has been separated from its physical source is compromised, leading to confusion and frustration—proof of the strong correlation between hearing and cognition.

Studies show that patients with poor hearing rely on acquired knowledge in order to fill in the missing blanks. This allows those who wear hearing devices to utilize cognitive reserves in order to fill in the blanks when auditory signals are at a minimum. When hearing is compromised, our cognitive system works harder to interpret sensory input data increasing attention, boosting short term memory and applying previously acquired knowledge to help make sense of the world around us.

Aural rehabilitation can help by training the brain to improve cognition. Simply put, providing the best sound quality delivered at the best possible signal to-noise ratio eases the cognitive burden, improving the ability to hear while reducing the effects of cognitive decline such as dementia.

Amplification features, including directionality, binaural amplification, FM systems and wireless connectivity all translate to improved sound quality and a lower cognitive burden. In short, the easier it is to listen, the better our ability to hear.
Clinic News
Join us January 30 as award winning wellness strategist and best-selling author, Cathy Richards, shares healthy aging tips from her breakthrough book, BOOM: 6 Steps to a Longer, Healthier Life. Richards’ book has been praised as a ‘book for all ages’ that creates a compelling case for improving
health no matter your age or lifestyle.

Light refreshments will be provided at The Treatment and Learning Centers, 2019 Gaither Road, Suite 100. Two seminars will be offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. RSVP today by calling or emailing Nina Herndon at (301) 424-5200 ext. 159 or NHerndon@ttlc.org
Hearing Aid Special

From November 2019 through February 1, 2020, get
$600 off when you purchase a pair of hearing devices, or $300 off when you purchase a single device from FHC

Call us for next steps regarding this promotion:
301-738-1415

Valid through February 1, 2020
Stay tuned for our next e-newsletter and please don’t hesitate to contact us should you need our services or have any concerns or questions. We appreciate you!
The Family Hearing Center at TLC | 2092 Gaither Rd Ste 100 Rockville, MD 20850 | 301-738-1415
www.ttlc.org