Vitamins?

"Have you heard? You can reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss by consuming more sweet potatoes, salmon, and almonds." So states an article about how to help our hearing and reduce loss with time. The article can be accessed hereand thanks to Paul's Post reader Kent Tagger for sending me this link (I appreciate all of you sending me stuff relevant to the high-end). The article details an Australian study that purports a 47% increase in hearing ability (or lack of loss) by consuming some good healthy stuff that we should be taking anyway. It's a short article, worth the read, worth the consideration. The good news, even if the study's wrong, what it suggests is good for you and it's a win/win situation. I have another reason for bringing this to your attention, however, and it's a friendly nudge for you to be proactive in helping younger people protect their hearing. Hearing damage, due to excessive volume levels, can be permanent (and often times is). We should make a point of familiarizing ourselves with this info and helping our children and younger people protect their hearing whenever possible - because permanent is permanent. There's no going back. We're all familiar with our kid's duty to rebel, scare, upset and generally cause us grief. We did it, they do it, their kids will do the same. I don't approve of (that's their point) but am OK with tattoos, piercings and all manner of crazy stuff as long as it can be reversed - and most of it can. My parents were horrified when I grew my hair long and smoked pot - but I recovered - so did they. Kids will do whatever they wish but if we can help them understand it's not OK to listen to music too loud - so loud that it damages their hearing - then someday you'll be thanked. Of course, right now you'll be ridiculed - but that's ok. One of the easiest warning signs of hearing damage is the ringing in the ears after being bombarded with loud music. Let them know this information so they can be the judge. Every time their ears ring after a concert, there your image will be guilting them into thinking about it. Also let them know there are socially acceptable solutions. One of my favorites (other than stuffing a napkin in my ears in emergencies) is clear silicon earplugs used by swimmers. You can barely tell they are there, they're comfortable and help a lot - and your kid won't look like a goon.