Can't hear clearly, always interrupting! What should elderly people do when hearing loss occurs? It is important to do these 4 things in daily life

People's hearing function begins to decline after the age of 40. Some people with a family history of hearing loss may start to decline in their 30s, so early health care is very important. Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine reminds the elderly to protect their hearing and pay attention to the following points in daily life.

1. Avoid noise

If the elderly are exposed to noise for a long time, their hearing, which is already beginning to decline, will become more easily fatigued, and the micro-blood vessels in the inner ear will often be in a spasmodic state, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the inner ear, and hearing will rapidly decline, and even noise-induced deafness will occur. Therefore, the elderly should try to reduce the interference of noise on hearing.

2. Use ototoxic drugs with caution

As people age, they have more diseases and they often use antibiotics. However, it should be noted that antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, and kanamycin should not be used in excess or for too long. They can be used alternately with other drugs or with traditional Chinese medicine. If they must be used, changes in hearing should be monitored at all times during and after medication.

3. Pay attention to your diet

Pay attention to food hygiene, eat less high-fat foods, and eat more vegetables, fruits, and fish that are rich in fiber and protein. Get rid of bad habits, especially smoking and drinking. The amount and frequency should be kept to a minimum, and it is best not to smoke or drink.

4. Maintain good habits

People need to control their emotions when they get old. Emotional fluctuations can cause the autonomic nerves in the body to lose their normal regulatory functions. Massage is also a good way to maintain health. When massaging, it is recommended to massage the Yifeng point (the depression behind the earlobe) and the Tinghui point (the depression in front of the earlobe, symmetrical to the Yifeng point across the ear) once in the morning and evening, each time for 5 to 10 minutes.

In addition, the elderly who like to use ear spoons, matchsticks, etc. to pick their ears need to be especially careful. When picking their ears, the action must be gentle. If you are not careful, you may hurt the ear canal and cause infection, inflammation, or even damage the eardrum. The scientific method is to use a cotton swab dipped in a little alcohol or glycerin to gently wipe the ear canal when the ear canal is extremely itchy.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Zhou Lijie, Department of Geriatrics, Hunan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine

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(Edited by YT)