All the better to hear you with

What's behind the increase? The aging of the population is one culprit. Between 40 and 50 per cent of people over the age of 65 currently have a hearing loss.

"We will naturally lose our hearing as we get older and it happens at different times and different rates for each person," says Kate Dekok, Chief Audiologist at ListenUP! Canada. "Hearing loss relating to aging is irreversible and not medically treatable."

We're even losing our hearing earlier than in the past thanks in part to noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The National Hearing Foundation of Canada warns baby boomers are starting feel the effects in their 40s and 50s -- that's 20 years earlier than their parents' generation.

Children and teens are at risk too. U.S. studies have shown that 12.5 per cent of young children have already been affected by hearing loss. Experts warn that adolescents and teens are a high-risk group.

There isn't a magic pill or surgery to fix hearing loss. While we can't change factors like injury, heredity or age, we can take steps to keep our hearing in top form through prevention and treatment.

12 tips for better hearing

Avoid loud noises. Studies show that up to one half of all NIHL cases could have been prevented or reduced by limiting exposure to noise. Whenever possible, stay clear of damaging noises and environments. For example, keep your car windows closed in heavy traffic, avoid seats near the speakers at concerts and choose restaurants where you can converse without raising your voice.

Limit exposure. Many sounds we take for granted can cause harm if they're too loud, too long or we hear them too often. The higher the number of decibels (dB), the shorter the amount of time your ears should endure it. Consider: