Story at-a-glance
- Chronic stress alters how your brain processes sound, making regular noises like conversations seem quieter while your ears remain physically healthy
- Stress primarily muffles medium-volume sounds while allowing very soft or very loud noises to break through, a possible survival mechanism
- The longer stress persists, the more your hearing is affected, creating a gradual decline that often goes unnoticed but impacts daily interactions
- Stress creates a cycle where diminished hearing ability leads to communication difficulties, which further increases stress levels
- Simple interventions like improving gut health, practicing slow breathing, walking, ensuring proper sleep and maintaining a positive mindset help protect hearing function
