Several Medical Problems Have Been Linked to Hearing Loss

Aging is one of the most common signals of hearing loss and let's face it, as hard as we might try, we can't avoid aging. But did you know that hearing loss can lead to between loss concerns that are treatable, and in some cases, preventable? Here's a peek at some examples that could surprise you.

1: Diabetes

A widely-reported 2008 study that studied over 5,000 American adults found that individuals who had been diagnosed with diabetes were two times as likely to have mild or greater hearing loss when mid or low frequency tones were applied to test them. Impairment was also more likely with high-frequency sounds, but not as extreme. It was also discovered by analysts that people who had high blood sugar levels but not so high as to be defined as diabetes, in other words, pre-diabetic, were 30 percent more likely than individuals who had normal blood sugar levels, to have loss of hearing. A more recent 2013 meta-study (that's right, a study of studies) revealed that the relationship between hearing loss and diabetes was persistent, even while when all other variables are considered.

So it's well established that diabetes is associated with a greater chance of hearing loss. But why would diabetes put you at increased chance of suffering from hearing loss? The answer isn't really well known. Diabetes is connected to a wide range of health problems, and notably, the kidneys, extremities, and eyes can be physically damaged. One theory is that the disease may impact the ears in a similar manner, blood vessels in the ears being harmed. But it might also be related to overall health management. A 2015 study highlighted the link between diabetes and hearing loss in U.S veterans, but in particular, it discovered that individuals with uncontrolled diabetes, in other words, that those with untreated and uncontrolled diabetes, it discovered, suffered worse. It's important to get your blood sugar checked and talk with a doctor if you think you could have undiagnosed diabetes or might be pre-diabetic. It's a good idea to have your hearing tested if you're having a hard time hearing also.

2: Falling

OK, this is not really a health condition, since we aren't talking about vertigo, but experiencing a bad fall can trigger a cascade of health issues. And though you might not realize that your hearing could affect your likelihood of tripping or slipping, research from 2012 revealed a considerable connection between hearing loss and risk of a fall. Evaluating a sample of over 2,000 adults ages 40 to 69, scientists found that for every 10 dB increase in loss of hearing (as an example, normal breathing is about 10 dB), the danger of falling increased 1.4X. Even for people with slight loss of hearing the connection held up: Within the last twelve months people with 25 dB of hearing loss were more likely to have fallen than people with normal hearing.

Why would having trouble hearing cause you to fall? There are a number of reasons why hearing problems can lead to a fall besides the role your ears have in balance. Though this research didn't go into what was the cause of the participant's falls, it was speculated by the authors that having difficulty hearing what's around you (and missing a car honking or other important sounds) might be one problem. But if you're having difficulties paying attention to sounds near you, your divided attention means you might be paying less attention to your physical environment and that could lead to a fall. The good news here is that managing hearing loss may potentially lessen your chance of suffering a fall.

3: High Blood Pressure

A variety of studies (like this one from 2018) have found that loss of hearing is associated with high blood pressure and some (like this 2013 research) have shown that high blood pressure may actually accelerate age-related hearing loss. Even after controlling for variables including noise exposure or if you smoke, the connection has been relatively consistently revealed. Gender is the only variable that appears to make a difference: The connection betweenhearing loss and high blood pressure, if your a male, is even stronger.

Your ears are quite closely connected to your circulatory system: In addition to the many tiny blood vessels in your ear, two of the body's main arteries run right near it. This is one explanation why people who have high blood pressure often experience tinnitus, it's actually their own blood pumping that they're hearing. (That's why this kind of tinnitus is called pulsatile tinnitus; it's your own pulse your hearing.) The leading theory for why high blood pressure could speed up hearing loss is that high blood pressure can also do permanent damage to your ears. Each beat has more force if your heart is pumping harder. That could potentially damage the smaller blood arteries inside your ears. High blood pressure is manageable, through both medical interventions and lifestyle change. But if you believe you're experiencing hearing loss even if you believe you're too young for the age-related stuff, it's a good decision to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert.

4: Dementia

Danger of dementia might be higher with hearing loss. A 2013 study from Johns Hopkins University that was documented after almost 2,000 individuals in their 70's during the period of six years revealed that the danger of mental impairment increased by 24% with just minimal loss of hearing (about 25 dB, or slightly louder than a whisper). A 2011 study by the same research group which tracked subjects over more than ten years found that when the subject's hearing got worse, the more likely it was that they would develop dementia. (Alzheimer's was also discovered to have a similar connection, albeit a less statistically substantial one.) moderate loss of hearing, based on these findings, puts you at 3X the risk of somebody who doesn't have hearing loss; severe hearing loss nearly quintuples one's risk.

But, though researchers have been able to document the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline, they still aren't positive as to why this occurs. A common theory is that having difficulty hearing can cause people to avoid social situations, and that social isolation and lack of mental stimulation can be incapacitating. A different theory is that hearing loss overloads your brain. Essentially, trying to perceive sounds around you exhausts your brain so you may not have much energy left for remembering things like where you put your medication. Preserving social ties and keeping the brain active and challenged could help here, but so can treating hearing loss. Social circumstances become much more confusing when you are contending to hear what people are saying. So if you are dealing with hearing loss, you need to put a plan of action in place including having a hearing exam.