Maintaining Your Senses As You Age: Dos and Don’ts

Many people think that a decline in their senses, like their sight and hearing, is an inevitable consequence of ageing. In some ways, it is: as you get older, the biophysical machinery that comprises the senses begins to decay. Even so, we want to maintain our connection with the world through sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. We don’t want these changes to deprive us of our quality of life. What are some do’s and don’ts to maintain your senses as you get older?

Do get annual dilated eye exams

You want to start by getting annual dilated eye exams. These allow opticians to identify issues like macular degeneration or glaucoma early, which often don’t have any pain or warning signs. Catching these conditions as they’re beginning to develop is a great way to prevent total vision loss in the future.

Don’t rely on cheap glasses

At the same time, you want to avoid the temptation to rely on cheap glasses. Many people buy an inexpensive pair of reading glasses that offer magnification, but they don’t upgrade to lenses that correct for underlying eye pressure issues or astigmatism.

Do get a hearing test

You also want to get a hearing test every year or so after you hit 55. Hearing loss can decline slowly and insidiously, and it can be hard for many people to detect. Hearing loss patients often wait up to seven years before getting the hearing aids they need to function better.

Make sure you address hearing loss issues early with hearing aids. If you don’t, it forces the brain to work overtime, which can lead to conditions like tinnitus. It can also make social interactions more challenging, leading to a higher likelihood of withdrawal.

Don’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears

At the same time, you want to avoid the temptation to use cotton swabs to clean your ears. As you get older, the earwax mechanism that ejects dust and other particles out of the ears can become more clogged. In these cases, regular earwax cleanings are often essential. Q-tips and cotton swabs push earwax deeper into the eardrum, causing impaction. If you think you have an earwax issue, go to a specialist who can remove it using the latest equipment.

Do experiment with herbs and spices

As you get older, your ability to taste food declines significantly, and you may find yourself adding more salt to your meals. Instead of doing this to boost flavour, try experimenting with various herbs and spices like hot sauces, ginger, garlic, and citrus. These add more contrast and variety to your meals, keeping even the most basic foods enjoyable if you get the combination of spices right.

Don’t always default to adding extra salt and sugar

On the flip side, you want to avoid the temptation of defaulting to adding extra salt and sugar, over-seasoning your food to compensate for dull taste buds. Unfortunately, this can lead to cardiovascular issues and high blood pressure, so avoid it if you can.