Do not believe that with home remedies “you will hear like before”: you must be very careful. No home remedy, infusion, oil, herb, or “ear cleaning” restores normal hearing in most cases, let alone at 79 or 80 years of age. Hearing can improve if the cause is treatable, but this must be determined by a doctor.
What can actually happen?
Earwax blockages: they can be removed, but only by a professional (physician or nurse). Hearing cleaning devices, home oils, or “ear candles” can push the wax in, perforate the eardrum, or cause infections.
Ear infection: can be treated with medications prescribed by a doctor.
Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis): it is not reversible with remedies. What does help are properly fitted hearing aids, auditory rehabilitation, and communication strategies.
Medications: some can damage hearing or worsen tinnitus. You must consult your doctor about this.
Serious causes: sudden hearing loss, pain, discharge, dizziness, or hearing loss in only one ear require urgent evaluation.
Remedies to avoid:
Oils, garlic, onion, urine, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide in the ear: risk of irritation, infection, or perforation.
Ear candles: they are not useful and can burn or perforate the eardrum.
Threads or objects to “clean” the ears: they push the earwax and can cause injury.
Herbs or supplements “to improve hearing”: there is no solid evidence and they can interact with medications.
Warning signs: medical emergency.
Sudden hearing loss (within hours or days).
Intense pain, discharge, fever.
Severe dizziness or vertigo.
Hearing loss in only one ear.
New or very bothersome tinnitus.
Facial weakness, confusion, neurological symptoms.
What helps?
Consult an otolaryngologist and an audiologist. Have her ears examined, an audiometry performed, and rule out blockages, infections, ototoxic medications, or other causes.
Hearing aids if indicated. They do not cure hearing, but they greatly improve communication and safety.
Speak facing her, with a clear voice, without shouting, with good lighting and low background noise.
Review medications with the doctor.
Protect her ears from loud noises.
In summary: there is no home remedy that will restore normal hearing. If your grandmother has noticed hearing loss, a medical evaluation is essential. What can be improved, improves with professional treatment; what cannot, is managed with hearing aids and safe strategies. Do not put anything into the ear without medical indication.
