Although hearing loss can be hereditary and a natural result of aging, there are proactive steps you can take to keep your hearing sharp and healthy. Your ears receive sounds, but your brain processes all the wonderful, (and maybe not so wonderful,) sounds that you hear. So, keeping your brain healthy can help to keep your hearing healthy too. Puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, and word searches help to maintain healthy brain tissue and the neural connections necessary for processing sensory information. If you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, be sure to speak to a hearing professional.