Asking people to repeat themselves? A constant ring or buzz when the room goes quiet? Here is what researchers know about why it happens, what actually helps, and where a supplement fits in.
By the Smart Living Spot Editorial Team · · 9 min read
Hearing loss usually builds slowly. Years of noise, aging of the tiny hair cells in the inner ear, some medicines and other health conditions all add up. Many people with hearing loss also notice tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing or hissing that no one else hears.
The official Audifort page describes tinnitus as the brain "trying, but failing, to repair itself," and cites a Georgetown University press item and animal research. Those are real lines of study, but they are hypotheses and lab work, not proof that a supplement can restore hearing in people.
Honest caveat: no approved drug or supplement has been shown to regrow the inner ear's hair cells in humans. Be cautious about any product that implies it can.
The best evidence is about overall eating patterns, not one nutrient. In the Nurses' Health Study II, 70,966 women were followed for 22 years. Those whose diets most closely matched the Mediterranean or DASH patterns had about a 30% lower risk of moderate or worse hearing loss.
Reality check: this was an observational study of women, and hearing loss was self-reported. It cannot prove that the diet caused the lower risk. Think of food as support for your blood vessels and overall health, not a cure for ringing or hearing loss.
In a Harvard analysis of women (Curhan et al., 2013), the most physically active had a 17% lower risk of hearing loss than the least active, and those who walked two hours a week or more had a 15% lower risk than those who walked less than one hour.
Caveat: the walking study is observational, and the Cochrane review rated the certainty of the evidence as low to moderate, with no data beyond the end of treatment. CBT changes how much ringing bothers you; it does not silence it.
Audifort is a liquid dietary supplement taken as drops, for example in a morning coffee. The official page markets it to support healthy hearing and "ear comfort and cognitive clarity," and says it contains over 20 ingredients. It highlights these:
What we found when we searched for published research. Evidence on a single ingredient does not prove the blend works.
Our take: we found no good evidence that the formula improves hearing or tinnitus, and the main U.S. guideline advises against supplements for tinnitus. If you are curious, the guarantee lowers the financial risk, but a hearing test, protecting your ears and, if needed, CBT or hearing aids are the better first steps. Run any supplement past your doctor.
Read the details yourself on the official Audifort page and decide with your doctor.
See the official Audifort page →Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
We found no evidence that it does. There is no published clinical trial of the complete formula, and the U.S. tinnitus guideline advises against dietary supplements for tinnitus. Customer stories are not proof, and results vary.
The brand calls it natural and non-habit forming, but natural does not mean risk-free. It contains gymnema, which can lower blood sugar and interact with diabetes medicines, and a long list of other ingredients whose amounts we could not see. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you take medicine or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Start with a hearing exam to find treatable causes. For persistent, bothersome tinnitus, guidelines recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, and hearing aids can help when hearing loss is present. Protecting your ears from loud noise helps stop it getting worse.
Large studies in women link Mediterranean or DASH-style eating and regular walking with a lower risk of hearing loss, but these are associations and do not prove cause. They are still sensible habits for your whole body.
See a doctor promptly for ringing in one ear, pulsing tinnitus, dizziness, or ringing with hearing difficulty. Sudden hearing loss in one ear needs urgent care.
How we reviewed this: we read the official Audifort order page and searched for published research on hearing, tinnitus and the highlighted ingredients. We could not read the full ingredient label. This article has not had a clinician's medical review. It is for information only and is not medical advice. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Talk to your doctor before changing your routine.