inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
get healthing in your inbox with the morning checkup and weekender newsletter!
home / health essentials

protect and maintain your hearing: essential products for prevention and improvement

the sooner you take action, the better, because it’s not reversible. devices like hearing aids and other steps to protect your hearing can reduce hearing loss and impact your quality of life.

by karen hawthorne
published jun 24, 2024
read time 5 minute read
join the conversation
read time 5 minute read
join the conversation
statistics canada reports that hearing loss consistently ranks among the top five causes of years lived with a disability, and an estimated 19 per cent of canadian adults have at least mild hearing loss. getty images
reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. if you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves or have trouble following conversations when you’re in a noisy restaurant, it’s likely a sign of hearing loss. it happens gradually for most people and we tend to shrug it off. and while it can develop with aging, it also affects kids and young adults. in fact, exposure to loud noise over time is the most common reason people have the condition, says the cleveland clinic.
the sooner you take action, the better, because it’s not reversible. devices like hearing aids and other steps to protect your hearing can reduce hearing loss and impact your quality of life. statistics canada reports that hearing loss consistently ranks among the top five causes of years lived with a disability, and an estimated 19 per cent of canadian adults have at least mild hearing loss. the social and health consequences related to the condition are serious – not only embarrassment, but fatigue, anxiety, depression and social isolation. research, including a compelling study from johns hopkins, has also revealed the link between hearing loss and risk of dementia.

related stories

hearing aids may lower the risk of dementia, study says
findings highlight the urgent need for the early introduction of hearing aids when someone starts to experience hearing impairment.
many canadians between the ages of 40 and 79 aren’t even aware they have a hearing problem. getty

hearing loss: causes, symptoms, treatment
hearing loss can have serious social and mental health implications, causing people to withdraw from others, and experience anxiety and depression.
sixty per cent of canadians between the ages of 19 and 79 have a hearing health problem. getty
story continues below
here’s a guide to helpful products on amazon to be proactive and take action to protect your hearing.

summary

rechargeable hearing aids with noise cancelling for seniors and adults daily living with portable charging case
jinghao rechargeable listening amplifiers personal audio headphones device daily living with charging box
ear wax removal tool by tilcare – ear irrigation flushing system for adults & kids
hearing aid wax guards & cleaning kit
vibes acoustic filter ear plugs – decibel reducing ear plugs for music concert festivals – as seen on shark tank
professional safety earmuffs by decibel defense
–

rechargeable hearing aids with noise cancelling for seniors and adults daily living with portable charging case

price: $169.99
rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (133 ratings)
as audiology expert bill hodgetts tells university of alberta researchers, there’s a stigma to hearing aids, so people don’t use them because they don’t want to feel old or be perceived as an older person. there’s also the expectations of the technology. hearing aids aren’t designed to restore lost function. the delicate hair cells in the ear damaged by noise, age or medications can’t just be repaired. instead, they use tiny directional microphones and a lot of advanced processing to help minimize distracting background noise, he explains. “they maximize your ability to hear who’s talking to you.”
story continues below
over-the-counter hearing aids like these from taimei don’t require a hearing test by a hearing professional, so they’re meant for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. they are rechargeable in two to three hours for up to 30 hours of use, compact and lightweight, with an ergonomic design to fit into your ear canal for comfort and ease of use. if you’ve got them, use them! recent evidence suggests that treating hearing loss with hearing aids could potentially help reduce the risk of dementia.
for those with severe hearing loss, see an audiologist for a full exam and help to navigate treatment and hearing aids.
 

jinghao rechargeable listening amplifiers personal audio headphones device daily living with charging box

price: $89.99
rating: 3.3 out of 5 stars (145 ratings)
another option to hearing aids is a personal sound amplifier to help amplify sound like the tv or someone’s voice in a conversation. this rechargeable pair fits like an earbud snugly inside your ear canal. they come with three sizes of soft silicone domes to attach to get the proper fit. some people appreciate the earbud design as more discreet than other device styles.
 

ear wax removal tool by tilcare – ear irrigation flushing system for adults & kids

story continues below
price: $24.99
rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (2,851 ratings)
wax buildup in your ear can also affect your hearing, so keeping your ears clean is important. you can tilt your head from side to side in the shower letting warm water rinse your ear, or try a home kit that is more thorough. this reusable one by waxiway was rated best overall in people magazine’s review with audiology experts for safety, effectiveness and value. it uses a saline solution to loosen ear wax and flush it out, along with a basin for simple cleanup. why is it important? the skin of your ear canal creates wax to take any debris and move it out of your ear. but with frequent use of ear plugs, in-ear headphones and hearing aids, cleaning your ears should be on your radar. physicians and other healthcare providers can also remove wax buildup, but remember to steer of diy methods like cotton swabs that can damage sensitive structures behind the ear canal, cautions cedars-sinai health.
 

hearing aid wax guards & cleaning kit

price: $20
rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)
ear wax is also one of the causes of problems with hearing aid devices because it clogs the earpiece. depending on the amount of wax your ear canal produces, the filter in this cleaning kit should be replaces before it is full of ear wax or dust, so keep monitoring your devices. timing can range from every week to every month. if you’ve invested in devices to improve your hearing, the extra care and attention will help with performance and your personal satisfaction.
story continues below
 

vibes acoustic filter ear plugs – decibel reducing ear plugs for music concert festivals – as seen on shark tank

price: $34
rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (12,591 ratings)
in a 2017 episode of the popular shark tank show, the sharks turned down the opportunity to invest in vibes high-fidelity earplugs, but the exposure catapulted sales and moved the new business into the earplug industry to stay, slash gear reports. the brand of acoustically balanced earplugs was designed for concertgoers and musicians to protect their hearing. vibes creator, jackson mann, had ruptured an eardrum while standing too close to a speaker at a concert. the earplugs lower the volume to safe levels without muffling the sound. they can also help with people who have tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and autism processing disorders with sensitivity to sound.
the ontario ministry of labour recommends hearing protection if exposed to 80 decibels or louder for eight hours. the volume at a typical concert or nightclub reaches 120 decibels and recommended maximum exposure is only 15 minutes with no protection, hamilton health sciences notes. short term, you ears might recover, but repeated exposure can mean long term hearing loss.
story continues below
 

professional safety earmuffs by decibel defense

price: $58.05
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (8,823 ratings)
for noise exposure from firearms or industrial machinery, ear protection is critical. these earmuffs from decibel defense have a comfortable headband with a padded cell design and sturdy construction. the model has a noise reduction rating of 37 decibels, making them a top-rated product. you can use them for the home lawnmower and vacuum, too, with reviewers commenting on the comfort and wearability.
bottom line, protecting your hearing can help you live better and healthier.
karen hawthorne
karen hawthorne

karen hawthorne worked for six years as a digital editor for the national post, contributing articles on health, business, culture and travel for affiliated newspapers across canada. she now writes from her home office in toronto and takes breaks to bounce with her son on the backyard trampoline and walk bingo, her bull terrier.

read more about the author

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.

you may also like
child put on sunscreen on face at beach. skin protection from sunburn. banner with copy space
shield your skin: must-have essentials to prevent sun damage and skin cancer
a young blind man with smartphone sitting on bench in park in city, making phone call.
living well with vision loss: top assistive devices you need
focus on hands, senior man applying ointment cream for joint knee pain at home while sitting on sofa - concept of treatment for osteoarthritis, knee injury and arthritis.
arthritis pain, swelling and stiffness: essentials to find relief for your joints
summer time. sad modern 40 years old woman in white shirt with handkerchief and eyeglasses has an allergy attack near flowering tree.
itchy eyes, stuffy nose? essentials for seasonal allergy relief
young man sitting on couch, checking blood pressure and taking notes at home. indian guy in white t-shirt using modern tonometer, experiencing hypertension caused by stress
a guide to blood pressure monitors for home use
you may also like
child put on sunscreen on face at beach. skin protection from sunburn. banner with copy space
shield your skin: must-have essentials to prevent sun damage and skin cancer
a young blind man with smartphone sitting on bench in park in city, making phone call.
living well with vision loss: top assistive devices you need
focus on hands, senior man applying ointment cream for joint knee pain at home while sitting on sofa - concept of treatment for osteoarthritis, knee injury and arthritis.
arthritis pain, swelling and stiffness: essentials to find relief for your joints
summer time. sad modern 40 years old woman in white shirt with handkerchief and eyeglasses has an allergy attack near flowering tree.
itchy eyes, stuffy nose? essentials for seasonal allergy relief
you may also like
child put on sunscreen on face at beach. skin protection from sunburn. banner with copy space
shield your skin: must-have essentials to prevent sun damage and skin cancer
a young blind man with smartphone sitting on bench in park in city, making phone call.
living well with vision loss: top assistive devices you need