Spring Clean Your Hearing-Health: Why Your Ears Deserve Attention Too

Spring in South Africa feels like a fresh start. We spring clean cupboards, clear clutter, and pack away heavy jackets. It is also the perfect time to reset your health habits, from food to fitness. Yet there is one part of your routine that often gets skipped — your ears.

We fuss over teeth and eyes, but hearing is the quiet hero of daily joy. It helps you catch a punchline, follow family chats around the braai, and soak up your favourite music on a Sunday drive. The World Health Organisation reports that more than one in five people live with some age-related hearing loss, with risk rising from our forties. The good news? Simple care can make a big difference to energy, focus, mood, and family connection.

This guide explains how to “spring clean” your hearing health, why annual hearing tests matter, and how it all links to brain wellness. If you live in Durban or Ballito, here are easy steps you can start today.

Why Do We Often Overlook Hearing Health?

Eye checks and dental cleanings feel routine. We book them without thinking. Hearing tests, on the other hand, often slip down the list. There is no toothache or red eye to force the issue, just a slow fade of hearing loss that is easy to ignore. You might think: "Am I just tired, or are people mumbling more lately?”

There is also stigma. Some people still picture bulky hearing aids, or “beige bananas” as I like to call them! Many delay a hearing check until communication becomes a daily struggle, or until a loved one drags someone in by tooth and nail, kicking and screaming that it's not hearing loss, but more that “people don’t know how to speak clearly anymore”.  In truth, modern hearing care is discreet, comfortable, and personal. It is about staying active, social, and safe, not about looking old.  I often refer to them as “neuro-technology” or “hearables” and not “hearing aids”, as truly this is technology that stimulates your brain, and gets your neurons firing! 

In South Africa, daily life is full of sound. Family gatherings, busy restaurants, school concerts, church services, and the ocean in Durban or Ballito.  Also, many of the official languages of South Africa use clicks, and if there is hearing loss then those clicks of language are also missed, thereby missing key details in a person’s intentions, their tone, sarcasm, and their meaning.  When hearing slips, so does confidence. Conversations feel like hard work, so you may withdraw. In meetings, you might miss key details and feel a step behind. At home, misunderstandings grow. A partner thinks you are not listening. You feel frustrated. Everyone loses a little connection.

Here is the thing, hearing health naturally supports your quality of life. Independence, clear conversations, and shared laughter. Making hearing checks as normal as eye tests reduces stress for the whole family. It is a simple, kind step for your future self.  And one important takeaway, for those of you concerned about how much money hearing aids (or neurotechnology) costs! And rightfully so! They are not cheap!! BUT… the sooner you treat a stage 1 hearing loss, the less likely you are to need the support that a stage 4 hearing loss needs - and that “support” is the money spent on higher levels of technology to be able to rehabilitate a hearing loss.  Again, leaving it untreated will only result in the loss progressing to further stages, and more support is required.  Treat it early, and it is likely to be a lot more cost effective than leaving it untreated for longer. 

What is Ear Clutter? Everyday Issues Like Wax Build-Up, Tinnitus, and Vertigo

Think of ear clutter as the hidden bits that pile up like dust in spring. They are common and often fixable, yet they can make life feel slightly out of tune.

• Wax build-up: Earwax protects the ear canal, but too much can block sound. That muffled feeling, like you are underwater, often points to a wax plug. It can make voices unclear, especially in background noise, and may lead to hearing loss. Over-the-counter drops can help, but cotton buds tend to push wax deeper. One of the leading causes of wax build-up I am seeing regularly is the use of in-ear earphones that keep pushing and compressing the wax further down the ear canal.

• Tinnitus: That constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in one or both ears can wear you down. It may flare up after loud noise exposure or during stress. At night, it can disturb sleep. During the day, it can make focusing harder. Many adults experience it, and it often has a hearing link.  The cause is often underlying hearing loss, but the tinnitus buzz is exacerbated by stress, hormones, neck tension, teeth grinding, wax build up, infections and some medication.

• Vertigo and balance issues: The inner ear helps with balance. When things are off, you may feel dizzy or unsteady. That affects driving, walking on uneven pavements, or playing with grandkids in the garden.  It is also a safety risk, and if a person has hearing loss coupled with instability, they have a 4x greater risk of a traumatic fall, which as we all know, will hinder a person’s longevity and independence as they age. 

These issues are widespread. The WHO notes that hundreds of millions live with hearing difficulties, and many cases are preventable or manageable with early care. If you find yourself missing parts of conversations at family braais or asking people to repeat themselves at work, that is a sign to check your ears. You do not have to push through. Help is close, and small steps can ease the strain.

Why an Annual Hearing Test is Essential for Your Long-Term Health

An annual hearing test is like your dental or eye check-up: quick, calm, and preventative. It gives you a clear picture of where you stand and catches small changes before they grow into bigger challenges.

Here is what to expect. During the diagnostic assessment at Hoffman Audiology, you sit in a sound-treated booth with comfortable headphones or insert earphones and complete a series of tones and speech tasks. We also include speech-in-noise testing to understand how you cope in busy, real-world environments. For patients over 50, we add a Cognivue Thrive cognitive screening, which gives insight into how your brain processes sound and information. The appointment typically lasts around an hour, and you will leave with a clear report and practical advice tailored to your lifestyle.

Why book a hearing test every year? Hearing changes slowly, especially from your forties. A test can catch shifts early, so support can be simple, whether that is wax removal, protection advice, or tinnitus management. Early action protects communication, balance, and confidence. For many, it also protects independence.

In South Africa, hearing checks are often covered by medical aid. Our Durban and Ballito practices offer accessible appointments and warm, unhurried care. The benefits are clear: peace of mind, fewer misunderstandings, and more ease in noisy places. It is preventative care for the invisible part of you that keeps life connected.

The Surprising Link Between Hearing and Brain Health This World Alzheimer’s Month

September brings World Alzheimer’s Month, and with it a reminder that brain health is a lifelong project.

Here is the simple picture. Your ears gather sound, and your brain makes sense of it. When hearing loss is present, your brain works harder to fill the gaps. That extra load can pull energy from memory, focus, and problem-solving. Untreated hearing loss also leads to social withdrawal. Less conversation means less stimulation, which accelerates cognitive decline, especially if you already have risk factors.

The hopeful news is that regular checks, like an annual hearing test, support brain health. If you catch changes early, you keep the brain well fed with clear sound. You also stay social, active, and engaged, which helps protect thinking skills.

Practical Tips to Spring Clean Your Hearing Health Starting Today

• Turn it down, just a notch: 

• At concerts, sports events, or busy restaurants, protect your ears from hearing damage. Carry simple foam plugs. 

• Aim for comfortable conversation levels at home and in the car. 

• If you want to get a little fancier than foam plugs, we can create custom plugs, noise plugs, snore plugs, and swim plugs made specifically for your ears.

• Keep water out when you can: 

• Love the sea in Durban or Ballito? Dry your ears after a swim. Tilt your head to let water drain. 

• Avoid putting objects in your ear canal. 

• Try a product like SwimSeal, which coats the ear canal and helps water drain out with ease.

• Clean wax safely: 

• Use softening drops if your ears feel blocked. Skip cotton buds, they push wax deeper. 

• If the blockage persists, consider booking a professional clean. 

• Use drops such as Cerumol, Waxsol, or EvaQwax to soften or dissolve wax; however, avoid using cotton buds.

• Stubborn wax may need removal by an audiologist, nurse, GP, or ENT.

• Watch allergy flare-ups: 

• Spring allergies can block the Eustachian tube, causing the ears to feel full. Manage pollen exposure, stay hydrated, and speak to your GP or pharmacist if symptoms persist.  

• Our local ENT specialist highly recommends regular use of saline nasal rinses for individuals suffering from allergic rhinitis. On healthy days, he suggests rinsing twice a day. If you are sick or experiencing congestion, you should increase this to four times a day in acute cases. This practice can help keep your entire family’s nose and sinus cavities clear of bacteria, germs, and infections, and it is safe for babies.

• Stay hydrated and active: 

• Good circulation supports the tiny hair cells in the inner ear and the sensitive vascular supply of the entire ear. 

• Aim for three litres of water a day in Durban’s humidity, plus daily walks and stretches.

• Mind the noise at home: 

• Vacuums, lawn equipment, and power tools are loud. Use ear protection when doing chores to reduce loud noise exposure, and take short breaks to enjoy quiet moments. 

• If you are doing housework with earphones on, remember the 60/60 rule: 60% volume for 60 minutes, then take a break.

• Book your hearing test: 

• Just like your dental check, schedule it once a year. It takes about 30 minutes and offers peace of mind for the year ahead. 

• If you already wear amplification, adjustments can usually be made to match your new targets. It does not necessarily mean new hearing aids.

Conclusion

Spring is the season of fresh starts. Ears often get overlooked, yet they shape every conversation, plan, and shared laugh. Common issues like wax build-up, tinnitus, and vertigo can be managed, especially when you act early to preserve your quality of life and protect vital connections. An annual check-up provides a clear baseline for ongoing monitoring and helps safeguard both hearing and brain health.

If you're ready to enjoy life at full volume again, schedule your annual hearing test this spring. Hoffman Audiology invites you to our Durban or Ballito locations, offering warm and unhurried care from our qualified, skilled, and experienced audiologists.

Schedule online or give us a call. Let us help you stay connected to the people and places you love.