Part of healthy growth and development is eating right and getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need. Without enough vitamins and minerals, you risk a deficiency that can affect your health, including hearing. Vitamins and minerals can be an effective way of protecting your child's hearing by preventing hearing loss and minimizing damage from ear infections. You may also be able to improve your child's auditory processing with vitamins and minerals.
Ear Infections
Chronic or untreated middle ear infections can lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss, states the American Academy of Otolaryngology. You can stave off ear infections with a balanced diet including all of the necessary vitamins and minerals. A weak immune system can make your child vulnerable to infection. Proper intake of vitamins and minerals keep the immune system functioning properly. Vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc can all help prevent ear infections.
Prevention
A 2007 study, published in the journal "Free Radical Biology and Medicine" of the University of Michigan suggests that a cocktail of vitamins A, C and E and magnesium may help prevent hearing damage from loud noises. The idea is that free radicals caused by loud noises inside the ear cause damage to the inner ear. By administering these vitamins and minerals, free radical activity is kept at bay, helping to prevent permanent damage. For children, this can mean that taking these vitamins regularly or eating a well-balanced diet can protect ears from loud noises.
Auditory Processing
Auditory processing is the ability to understand and process what the ears hear. This is largely influenced by your child's ability to hear as well as the brain's interpretation of the content. Problems with auditory processing can be caused by ear infections and nutritional inadequacy. Preventing ear infections through vitamins and minerals is one step to take to influence your child's auditory processing. Adequate nutrition for the brain, including all of the necessary vitamins and minerals for life keep, the brain functioning properly to process and remember what you hear.
Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests providing all of the essential vitamins and minerals your child needs through a well-balanced diet. Vitamins and mineral supplements may be used if your child has a restrictive, poor or inconsistent eating behavior. Although certain vitamins and minerals can help improve hearing, you should avoid megadoses of vitamins because vitamin toxicity can be dangerous. Speak with your child's doctor about the right vitamins and minerals for your child.
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