Can You Improve Your Hearing as You Get Older? What Really Works

This article is for general information and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for personalised medical advice. Seek urgent medical help for sudden hearing loss or the warning signs described below. Food supplements are not a treatment for hearing loss or tinnitus.

Imagine enjoying a busy family gathering without losing half the conversation. Or hearing your grandchild share a whispered secret, the birds outside in the morning, and the smoke alarm when it matters.

If those sounds have become harder to catch, you are not imagining it. Hearing often changes gradually, so the first clues may be difficulty following speech in a restaurant, turning up the television, or feeling unusually tired after a conversation. The NHS lists these among the common signs of hearing loss.

The encouraging news is that there is a great deal you can do. The honest news is that “improving your hearing” does not always mean restoring your ears to how they worked decades ago. Some causes, such as excess earwax or certain middle-ear problems, may be treatable. Age-related damage to the inner ear is usually permanent, but the right hearing care can make speech and everyday sounds clearer, reduce listening effort, and help you feel more confident and connected.

Can lost hearing really come back?

It depends on why your hearing has changed.

Hearing loss is often described as either conductive, sensorineural, or mixed. Conductive hearing loss happens when sound is obstructed on its journey through the outer or middle ear. Earwax, infection, fluid, or problems with the tiny middle-ear bones may be responsible, and some of these causes can be treated medically or surgically (NICE adult hearing-loss guidance).

Sensorineural hearing loss involves the inner ear or hearing nerve. Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, is usually sensorineural and tends to develop slowly in both ears. Current treatment cannot regrow the damaged sensory cells responsible for most age-related hearing loss. The US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders says scientists do not yet know how to prevent age-related hearing loss itself, although protecting yourself from excessive noise can prevent additional noise-related damage (NIDCD).

This distinction matters. A hearing aid does not repair the ear, but that does not mean it offers only a small benefit. The NHS explains that hearing aids can make sounds louder and clearer, improve speech understanding, support confidence, and make conversations easier in different environments, although they do not make hearing perfect (NHS hearing aids and implants guidance).

The three-minute hearing check you can do at home

Before reading any further, ask yourself:

• Do people seem to mumble, especially in noisy rooms?
• Do you frequently ask others to repeat themselves?
• Is the television louder than your family prefers?
• Is hearing on the telephone becoming difficult?
• Do conversations leave you tired because you have to concentrate so hard?
• Have friends or family noticed a change before you have?

One “yes” does not diagnose hearing loss, but several are a good reason to arrange a check.

For a quick first step, the charity RNID offers a free online hearing check that takes about three minutes. It measures how well you hear speech against background noise. Use headphones or earphones in a quiet room for the most useful result (RNID online hearing check).

An online check is a screen, not a diagnosis. It cannot look for earwax, infection, asymmetrical hearing, middle-ear disease, or other medical causes. If the result suggests hearing loss, or everyday listening is becoming harder regardless of the result, ask your GP, an audiology service, or an HCPC-registered hearing aid dispenser for a full assessment.

When hearing loss needs urgent help

Do not wait for an online test if your hearing drops suddenly. NICE recommends that sudden hearing loss developing over three days or less, within the previous 30 days, should be assessed immediately and generally within 24 hours when it is not explained by an outer- or middle-ear cause (NICE adult hearing-loss guidance).

Seek urgent medical advice for:

• sudden hearing loss in one or both ears
• tinnitus with sudden hearing loss, facial weakness, or a spinning sensation
• tinnitus that beats in time with your pulse
• hearing loss with severe ear pain, discharge, or neurological symptoms
• a marked difference between your ears that is new or unexplained

The NHS tinnitus guidance advises emergency help for tinnitus after a head injury or tinnitus accompanied by sudden hearing loss, facial weakness, or vertigo.

Do you really need a hearing aid?

Not everyone does. First, a professional should establish the type and degree of hearing loss, check whether there is a treatable cause, and understand the situations that matter most to you.

If you do have permanent hearing loss, it is worth discussing hearing aids before communication becomes extremely difficult. The NHS advises that the earlier people obtain suitable hearing aids, the more they are likely to get from them. It can take several weeks or months to adjust because the brain is becoming reacquainted with sounds it may not have processed clearly for years (NHS hearing aids and implants guidance).

Modern hearing aids are very different from the large, indiscriminate amplifiers many people remember. The NHS describes options ranging from conventional behind-the-ear devices to barely visible in-canal models, as well as CROS and BiCROS systems for hearing loss affecting one side. Depending on the model, modern features may include:

• small behind-the-ear or receiver-in-the-ear designs
• directional microphones that prioritise speech in front of you
• automatic adjustment between quiet and noisy settings
• feedback and wind-noise management
• rechargeable batteries
• Bluetooth connection to a phone, television, or other device
• compatibility with hearing loops in theatres, places of worship, and public venues
• remote adjustments or follow-up support

Tiny devices that sit partly or completely inside the ear canal are available, but “least visible” does not automatically mean “best”. Very small controls and batteries can be awkward if you have arthritis, reduced dexterity, or poor eyesight. Some discreet devices are not powerful enough for more severe hearing loss. Comfort, speech clarity, ease of use, reliability, and aftercare matter more than invisibility.

How to choose a hearing aid for your life

Before comparing brands, write down your three most difficult listening situations. They might be family meals, restaurants, meetings, telephone calls, television, music, or outdoor activities. Then ask:

1. Will it address my pattern of hearing loss? The device should be selected and programmed using a proper assessment, not chosen by appearance alone.

2. Can I manage it comfortably? Practise inserting it, charging it, changing filters, and using its controls.

3. How does it perform in background noise? Ask what realistic improvement to expect in the places you find difficult.

4. Does it connect to the devices I use? Check phone, television, loop, and app compatibility.

5. What aftercare is included? Fine-tuning is normal. Clarify follow-up appointments, repairs, warranties, loss cover, and ongoing costs in writing.

6. Can I try it properly? Ask about the trial or return period and use the aid in your real daily environments.

NHS hearing aids are provided on long-term loan, with batteries, repairs, and aftercare available without charge, although local waiting times and device choices vary. Private hearing aids may offer more styles, but the NHS notes that a single private device can cost from approximately £500 to £3,500 or more, so the service package matters as much as the hardware (NHS hearing aids and implants guidance).

Should you buy a hearing aid online?

The old rule “never buy a hearing aid online” is now too simplistic. Self-testing software and hearing-aid functions are developing quickly, and current UK policy recognises scenarios in which adults buy compliant products before performing a self-administered test (Department of Health and Social Care).

However, buying solely from a glossy advert, without assessment or reliable aftercare, carries real disadvantages:

• a basic sound amplifier may make everything louder without matching your hearing loss
• an online test can miss earwax, infection, asymmetrical loss, or another condition needing referral
• a poor fit or incorrect settings may make the device uncomfortable and disappointing
• there may be no meaningful trial, fine-tuning, repair, or follow-up service
• marketing that says it can “restore natural hearing” should be treated with caution

If you buy privately, check that the person assessing your hearing and prescribing the hearing aid is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. In the UK, these are regulated functions of a registered hearing aid dispenser (GOV.UK regulated professions register). Also confirm that the product is a compliant medical device, obtain the total price and aftercare terms in writing, and make sure there is a practical return or trial period.

What if a hearing aid is not enough?

Treatment depends on the cause and severity of hearing loss.

• Earwax or infection: Treating the obstruction or infection may improve conductive hearing loss.
• Middle-ear surgery: Selected problems involving the eardrum or middle-ear bones may be treated surgically after specialist assessment.
• Bone-conduction devices: These may help when sound cannot travel efficiently through the outer or middle ear.
• Cochlear implants: These may be considered for severe permanent hearing loss that is not adequately helped by hearing aids. They convert sound into electrical signals that stimulate the hearing pathway.
• Other implants: Middle-ear or auditory brainstem implants are options for a smaller number of people with particular clinical needs.

These options require professional assessment because the appropriate treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hearing loss. Implants do not recreate normal hearing and require specialist assessment, surgery, programming, and rehabilitation, but they can provide meaningful access to sound for appropriately selected people. The NHS guide to hearing aids and implants explains the main options and when they may be considered.

Assistive devices can also make an immediate difference. Television streamers, personal microphones, captioned calls, doorbell alerts, and vibrating or flashing smoke alarms may be used with hearing aids or independently.

What actually helps tinnitus?

Tinnitus is hearing a sound that does not come from an external source. It may be ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, or whooshing, and it is often associated with hearing loss. For many people it becomes less intrusive, but persistent tinnitus can affect sleep, concentration, and emotional wellbeing.

There is no universal switch that “stops” tinnitus. The aim is to identify and treat any underlying issue, improve hearing where appropriate, and reduce the distress and attention attached to the sound.

Helpful approaches may include:

• checking for earwax, infection, hearing loss, and medicine-related effects
• hearing aids when tinnitus occurs alongside hearing loss
• cognitive behavioural therapy to change the response to tinnitus and reduce anxiety
• tinnitus counselling and education
• gentle background sound rather than complete silence
• sleep routines and stress-management techniques
• avoiding repeated exposure to damaging noise

The NHS says digital cognitive behavioural therapy is usually offered first when talking therapy is appropriate. It also notes that tinnitus retraining therapy may be available for severe or persistent tinnitus, although it is unclear whether it works for everyone (NHS tinnitus guidance).

Dietary supplements should not be presented as a tinnitus treatment. British Society of Audiology practice guidance states that supplements including ginkgo biloba, melatonin, zinc, and magnesium are not recommended for treating tinnitus because efficacy has not been established and some supplements can cause harm (British Society of Audiology).

The numbers worth remembering for hearing protection

There is no single decibel number that makes every sound “safe”. Risk depends on both loudness and time. As sound intensity rises, the safe listening time falls sharply.

The World Health Organization says that 80 dB can be listened to for up to 40 hours per week, while at 90 dB the suggested safe listening time falls to four hours per week.

The WHO recommends keeping personal devices below 60% of maximum volume, using well-fitted noise-cancelling headphones, moving away from loudspeakers, wearing earplugs in noisy venues, and giving your ears quiet breaks (WHO safe-listening guidance).

For Great Britain’s workplaces, 85 dB(A) averaged over a working day or week is the upper action value at which employers must provide hearing protection and hearing-protection zones. It is a legal action threshold, not a guarantee that every exposure below it is harmless (Health and Safety Executive).

A simple real-world clue is your voice. If you must raise it to be understood by someone standing an arm’s length away, the environment may be too loud. Step back, shorten your time there, or use properly fitted protection.

Medicines and hearing: why there is no safe “avoid these eight” list

Some medicines are ototoxic, meaning they can damage the cochlea or balance system and may contribute to hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance problems. Risk varies greatly with the medicine, dose, route, duration, kidney function, other treatments, genetics, and the illness being treated.

Important groups include:

• Aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, and neomycin, especially when used systemically for serious infections
• Certain platinum-based chemotherapy medicines, including treatments in which hearing is monitored as part of care
• Some loop diuretics, particularly at high doses or in medically complex situations
• Quinine and some related antimalarial medicines
• High-dose salicylates, including aspirin in large doses or overdose, which can cause tinnitus that is often temporary
• Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which may be associated with tinnitus or hearing symptoms in some circumstances

This is not a list of medicines to stop. Many are essential or life-saving, and normal-dose aspirin is very unlikely to cause permanent hearing loss. RNID advises speaking to a doctor if a medicine appears to cause or worsen hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance symptoms, and specifically warns not to reduce the dose or stop treatment without medical advice (RNID ototoxic medicines guidance).

If a potentially ototoxic treatment is necessary, ask whether baseline and follow-up hearing checks are appropriate. Report new ringing, muffled hearing, imbalance, or difficulty understanding speech promptly.

Hearing care is part of healthy ageing

Hearing is not only about volume. It affects conversation, confidence, independence, and the energy required to stay socially engaged.

Hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline in observational research, but association does not prove that it directly causes dementia. In the large ACHIEVE randomised trial, a hearing intervention did not slow cognitive decline across the full study population over three years. It did appear to slow decline in a prespecified group of older adults at higher risk — an encouraging result that requires careful interpretation rather than sweeping conclusions (The Lancet trial abstract on PubMed).

The established benefits are reason enough to act: clearer communication, easier participation, less listening strain, and greater awareness of important sounds.

Your seven-step healthy-hearing plan

1. Notice the signs. Difficulty with speech in noise, frequent repetition, louder television, tinnitus, and listening fatigue all deserve attention.

2. Take a short screen. Use the RNID three-minute check as a prompt, not a diagnosis.

3. Arrange a proper assessment. Ask for examination of your ears and a full hearing test if concerns persist.

4. Treat reversible causes. Earwax, infection, and some middle-ear problems may be manageable.

5. Use the right technology. Choose hearing aids or assistive devices around your hearing pattern, daily life, dexterity, and support needs.

6. Protect the hearing you have. Reduce volume and exposure time, take quiet breaks, and use correctly fitted hearing protection.

7. Review medicines safely. Discuss possible ototoxic effects with your GP, pharmacist, or specialist. Never stop prescribed treatment on the strength of an internet list.

You may not be able to turn back the biological clock inside the ear. But you can take practical, evidence-based steps to hear more of the voices, laughter, music, and warning sounds that make up daily life. The best place to start is simple: check your hearing and ask for help early.

The Swiss BioEnergetics take

Hearing care sits within the bigger picture of healthy ageing: staying active, staying connected, eating well, and looking after the everyday habits that keep you engaged with the people around you. Supplements have no role in treating hearing loss or tinnitus — the professionals and technology described above are the right route for your ears. Where we can help is with the broader daily nutrition routine that supports the years when the body starts to change.

A couple of staples from our range that many of our customers build into that routine:

Omega-3 Fish Oil Ultra Potent 1000mg
1000mg of fish oil per soft gel, providing 300mg of combined EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart — the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg, met at one soft gel per day. 90 soft gels, a three-month supply at one per day.

Vegan Omega 3 — Life’s Omega® Algal Oil
The plant-based alternative: full-spectrum DHA, EPA and DPA from marine algae in a carrageenan softgel, with no fish and no fishy aftertaste. 90 softgels, a 45-day supply at two per day.

If you have questions about any of our products, or which one fits alongside what your GP has recommended, get in touch — we’d rather have a real conversation than sell you the wrong thing.

This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your doctor, pharmacist or audiologist. Seek urgent medical help for sudden hearing loss or the warning signs described above. Food supplements are not a treatment for hearing loss or tinnitus. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional before changing medicines or beginning supplements, particularly if you have a medical condition or take prescription treatment.