Getting in a good workout can benefit more than our muscles and heart – it can also do wonders for our ears and hearing.
There are a number of exercises – both physical and mental – that can boost your hearing potential.
Cardiovascular
Everyone knows cardio exercise is good for the body, but the increased blood flow to the head can help hearing sensitivity by maintaining proper nerve function in the ears. As we age, it’s increasingly important for our bodies and ears to make aerobic fitness a priority. Aim for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
Sound Exercises
As with the rest of the body, the more you use your ears, the better they work. Look for listening and communication programs online to test your hearing or play brain games that use both your brain and ears. Another exercise you can do at home is to pick a sound – it could be the birds outside or the hum of your refrigerator – and try to concentrate on it. To make it more difficult, increase the environmental noise around you by turning on a radio or TV.
Yoga
This increasingly popular activity blends physical, mental and spiritual aspects to aid circulation throughout the body, brain and ears. This promotes healthy nerve function throughout the body.
Eye Workout
The eyes play a part in the inner ear’s vestibular system, responsible for controlling our balance. Inner ear issues can cause blurred vision, so it’s important to exercise the eyes as well. Try focusing on a still object, slowly moving your head from side to side, and then up and down while maintaining your focus on the object. Try performing this in a set of 20 moves each time. The possible dizziness you experience will subside with practice.
Do Puzzles
Using your brain to complete puzzles helps it process the sounds you hear. Puzzles such as crosswords or Sudoku will help maintain brain tissue and neural connections to keep both your brain and ears in tip-top shape.
For more information on how Audio Help Hearing Centers services can improve your hearing, schedule an appointment by calling us at 888-832-9966 or contact us online.