How Hearing Relates to Your Overall Health

Hearing loss is associated with 9 of the top 10 chronic conditions in adults 65+

Dementia/Alzheimer’s

The risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease specifically increased with hearing loss, such that for every 10 dB of hearing loss, the extra risk increased by 20%. Hearing loss could also lead to dementia by making individuals more socially isolated, a known risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders. (Lin, F.R.) Learn more about the connection between dementia and hearing loss here.

Diabetes

High blood glucose levels can cause damage to small blood vessels in the inner ear (similar to how diabetes damages vision and kidney function). Of those over 60 with diabetes, 54% have hearing loss. (Bainbridge, K.E., Hoffman, H.J., & Cowie, C.C.) Hearing loss is twice as common in diabetics. (National Institutes of Health)

Heart Disease

The inner ear is so sensitive to blood flow that it is possible that abnormalities in the cardiovascular system could be noted [in the ear] earlier than in other less sensitive parts of the body. Inadequate blood flow to the inner ear can cause trauma to blood vessels in the inner ear. (Friedland, D.R., Cederberg, C., & Tarima, S.)

Depression

Hearing loss is strongly associated with the development of depression in older adults. Hearing aids are independently associated with reduced odds of depression. (Mener et al.)

High Blood Pressure

As hearing declines with age, the average change in hearing is significantly greater in those with high blood pressure, or hypertension, as compared to normal hearing subjects. (Susmano, A. & Rosenbush, S.W.)

Smoking

Smokers are almost 2X more likely to have hearing loss as it can damage hearing. (Cruickshanks, K.J et al.) 46% of those exposed to second-hand smoke have hearing loss. (Fabry, D.A. et al.)

Kidney Disease

There are structural and functional similarities between tissues in the inner ear and kidneys. Toxins accumulated with kidney failure can damage nerves – including those in the inner ear. Moderate chronic kidney disease is independently associated with hearing loss. (Vilayur et al.)

Thyroid Disease

Ear development and function is dependent on thyroid hormones. Decreased hearing ability, particularly high frequencies, is higher in patients with hypothyroidism. (Berker et al.)

High Cholesterol

Chronic high cholesterol, or dyslipidemia, associated with elevated triglycerides may reduce auditory function. (Journal of Otolaryngology-Neurology)

Symptoms of Hearing Loss

Hearing problems rarely cause discomfort or pain, and because it typically occurs gradually, it’s common to adapt to hearing loss without realizing it. If you think you might be experiencing hearing loss, ask yourself the following questions:

Social

How often do you…

Require repetition in order to understand others?
Have difficulty following conversations with more than two people?
Think other people’s voices sound muffled or soft?
Have difficulty hearing in noisy situations, like restaurants or social gatherings?
Have trouble hearing children and women?
Turn the TV or radio louder than others prefer?
Have trouble hearing clearly on the phone?
Have difficulty following dialog in large spaces, such as at church or the Civic Center?
Answer or respond inappropriately in conversations?
Read lips or depend on other people’s facial expressions during conversations?
Turn your head so your ear points toward someone talking?

Emotional

How often do you…

Feel stressed from straining to hear what others are saying?
Feel annoyed at people because you can’t hear or understand them?
Feel embarrassed to meet new people because you may misunderstand what they’re saying?
Feel nervous about trying to hear or understand?
Withdraw from social situations you once enjoyed because of difficulty hearing?
Hear soft nature sounds, like birds chirping or leaves rustling?
Feel angered by the sound of a pen clicking or others chewing, breathing, or finger tapping?
Feel fearful of sounds in your environment being too loud or painful?

Medical

Do you or have you…

Have a family history of hearing loss?
Take medications that may have an effect on hearing loss or tinnitus?
Have diabetes, heart, circulation, thyroid, or kidney problems?
Have chronic or painful ear infections?
Been exposed to loud sounds over a long period?
Experienced a spell of dizziness or vertigo?
Experienced a loud blast of noise or sudden change in pressure?
Poked your eardrum with something, like a Q-tip?
Experienced head trauma or a concussion?

Safety

Can you…

Hear your car blinker or when someone honks their horn?
Be woken up if your smoke/fire alarm goes off while you’re sleeping?
Hear your phone ring, alarm clock, or doorbell?
Hear a baby cry from the other room?

If you are concerned about your hearing, talk with our audiologist about what can help. If you have experienced a sudden hearing loss, or hearing loss in one ear, seek medical attention immediately.

How We Hear

Your ear has three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear.

The outer ear is the part of the ear you can see. The shape of your outer ear collects sound and helps you localize where it’s coming from.

Your middle ear is the space behind your eardrum and is where three bones called the ‘ossicles’ are located. These are the smallest bones in the body. The middle ear connects to your throat via the ‘eustachian tube’, which allows pressurization to equalize when you pop your ears as well as allows fluid to drain when needed. Ear infections can occur due to a buildup of fluid in this part of your ear.

The inner ear, called the ‘cochlea’, is a tiny snail-shaped and fluid-filled chamber that’s encased in skull bone. Here, the vibratory sound signal is converted into a neural signal and sent to your brain. The inner ear also has three fluid-filled chambers, called the ‘semi-circular canals’, which detect your movements and enable you to maintain your balance.

Benefits of hearing with both ears

“Binaural” means “with both ears.” Humans hear better when we use both ears instead of just one. Using both ears allows you to hear sounds louder, gives you the ability to localize sounds, and helps you understand conversation clearly in noisy situations. That’s why it’s recommended that if you have a hearing loss in both ears, you use two hearing aids instead of one.