Turn that music down! Why protecting your hearing is important at any age
Our hearing usually isn’t an issue we think about much, despite the fact that 3 million Canadians have some degree of hearing loss. Whilst it’s true that our hearing generally decline as we age, there are also steps we can take to protect it throughout our lives and as we move from work to retirement.
It’s often others who notice our hearing loss before we do. As Prof Kevin Munro, of the Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness in the UK says:
“What happens is (people) get to the stage where they think everyone is mumbling. So they’re blaming everyone else. And then the people they live with say, ‘Why have you got the television so loud?’ That’s the time to sit up and take notice, because it is affecting all the people you love and spend time with.” (2)
Exposure to noise and hearing loss
One of the primary risks for hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. Health and safety legislation ensures companies are proactive at protecting hearing in the work environment.
If you were a keen rock concert goer in your youth, you may remember that ringing in your ears the day after. That kind of post-gig ringing was probably due to damage to the hair cells within the cochlea, and should have lasted no more than a couple of days max.(1)
However, that’s just a few hours of loud volume rock and roll. It is not long-term exposure. Hearing loss is increasingly a concern in young people who play music at higher volumes in their headphones for sustained periods, often to drown out surrounding noise. Such sustained exposure to loud levels of noise can have a permanent effect.
So, as a senior, if you are having to turn the tv volume up very high as a result of existing hearing loss, you might actually be risking further hearing loss for yourself and others. This may happen if they come into that environment even for a short time, but frequently, such as caregivers. As one of our previous article explains, wearing hearing aids can both improve your hearing and protect others’ hearing too. (Our blog: Hearing loss, dementia and the new generation of AI hearing aids ) (8)
“Alas! Ear wax!”
None of us like ear wax (especially Harry Potter’s headmaster Prof Dumbledore when he ate a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans that he thought was toffee…(3)). Ear wax (cerumen) is produced by glands in our ears, and has a protective function. It traps dust, shed skin, hair and other particles preventing them from reaching the inner ear. Ear wax contains an enzyme which helps prevent bacteria and infections affecting the ear, and helps keep the skin supple too.
Most of us don’t even notice ear wax until there seems to be too much of it in our outer ear. According to guidelines published in “Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery”,
“Roughly one in 10 children and one in 20 adults suffer from excessive earwax buildup, as do more than one third of elderly people.” (5)
Many older people will claim that their hearing loss is due to a build-up of wax. The issue is that when we try to clear ear wax ourselves by hand, the ear wax often gets pushed further back into the ear. Then it can block the ear resulting in some hearing loss, tinnitus and sometime dizziness (vertigo).
Do not attempt to clean your ears if you have ear pain, a discharge doesn’t look (or feel) like wax, or if you think you have a ruptured eardrum. In these cases, consult a physician or audiologist. My Health Alberta has good suggestions for removing excess earwax here: (4)
Ear wax and hearing aids
Ear wax can build up in your hearing aids, resulting in muffled sound and/or reduced volume. Your hearing aid provider should have given you specific tools and instructions to clear ear wax that accumulates in either molded hearing aids or BTE (behind-the-ear) models. Or check out the video below which explains what too does what!
Help with hearing from Vytality at Home
At Vytality at Home, our team are happy to help with ensuring you can continue to live independently with the care you require. We can also help with the practicalities, from snow clearance to shopping, home maintenance to paramedical services. We have hand-picked and trusted partners, and also a comprehensive list of other practitioners and trades we can call on who understand the specific needs of seniors and other receiving care at home.
For more info, just contact us:
Hearing protection for seniors FAQs
- How loud should I have my phone, iPad or TV?
To protect your hearing when wearing headphone (over-ear or ear buds style), you should turn down your personal devices to 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Go to this Health Canada page to see a neat diagram of listening time related to hearing loss. (6)
2. What health conditions can affect my hearing?
Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels in your inner ear. If you have any concerns, consult your physician.
3. How often should I get my hearing checked ?
It’s recommended that people over 60 schedule routine hearing tests every two years. If hearing loss is detected, you should get your hearing tested every year.
4. Is there financial assistance for hearing aids for seniors in Canada?
hearing test and hearing aids may be covered under your own private health insurance. The Alberta Aids to Daily Living Program (AADL) offers support for hearing aids through a cost-share system. See: https://www.alberta.ca/aadl-eligibility-and-application-for-benefits
DISCLAIMER:
This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician / health care provider if you have any questions about your health.
About the author
Nicole Dyer is Co-Founder & Co-President of Vytality at Home. She is a seasoned leader in senior living and healthcare operations, with over 20 years of experience driving innovation and growth in the sector. Nicole is a member of CPHR Alberta, and is an Ad Hoc Board Member and Administrator for Gordie Howe CARES, a charity working for the advancement of Alzheimer’s and dementia-related programming and events in Calgary.
SOURCES:
(1) 2024, Nov | Bay Audiology | How to stop ringing in ears from concerts (Blog post) | https://www.bayaudiology.co.nz/hearing-health-blog/how-to-stop-ringing-in-ears-from-concerts
(2) 2025, 24 June | Phillips, Sarah | Get earplugs – and never remove wax at home: 16 ways to protect your hearing, chosen by audiologists (Article) | The Guardian Newspaper | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/24/get-earplugs-and-never-remove-wax-at-home-16-ways-to-protect-your-hearing-chosen-by-audiologists/
(3) 1997 | Rowling, J. K. | “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” | Raincoast Books
(4) Earwax Blockage: Care Instructions (Article) | MyHealthAlberta | https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uh2941
(5) 2017 | Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. | Clinical Practice Guideline (Update): Earwax (Cerumen Impaction). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. ;156(1suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491 | Sage Journals | https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0194599816671491
(6) https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/noise-your-health/hearing-loss-tinnitus.html
(7) AADL – https://www.alberta.ca/aadl-eligibility-and-application-for-benefits
(8) Hearing loss, dementia and the new generation of AI hearing aids https://vytality.ca/2025/03/21/hearing-loss-dementia-and-new-generation-hearing-aids/
