5 Surprising Causes of Hearing Loss

Over 50-million Americans experience some degree of hearing loss. If you are one of them, booking an appointment with your audiologist to diagnose the severity and management strategy will be vital. Before that, though, it can be highly beneficial to understand the source of your issues.

While many cases are linked to aging and the degeneration of the inner ear structures, the truth is that hearing loss can be caused by many different reasons. Here are five that you may not have considered.

Stress

By now, you will probably be very familiar with the fact that stress can cause a plethora of health problems. As confirmed by NIH, stress is heavily linked to tinnitus. Therefore, it should not be overly surprising to learn that stress can also lead to temporary and permanent hearing loss.

It is because stress causes hypertension, which can bring the onset of hemorrhaging in the ears. Therefore, finding ways to manage stress levels and reduce your exposure to stressful situations can help protect your hearing while simultaneously delivering a host of additional health benefits.

An audiologist can also help you manage tinnitus symptoms to improve your quality of life and help contain stress levels. Stress is one of the most common underlying issues that contribute to hearing loss, which is why you must not overlook it.

Medications

When taking medications to correct one health problem, the last thing you need is to experience additional issues. Hearing loss is a potential side effect that can be attributed to a range of medications, such as diuretics and some antibiotics. When the medications cause damage to cells within the ear structure, hearing loss becomes likely.

Worse still, even medications like aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can cause damage. While the risks are primarily associated with high doses of the medications, it is also worth consulting your doctor about potential side effects – especially if you are already known to have mild hearing loss.

In most cases, it is possible to seek alternative treatments and medications. Meanwhile, if you are taking medications for any illness or condition, it should be mentioned to your audiologist before any hearing examination.

Smoking

Most people realize that exposure to loud noises can cause hearing loss, either through immediate damage after a loud exposure or due to progressive damage due to working in loud environments. However, it is far less commonly known that smoking can increase the sense of vulnerability to noise-induced damage.

Smokers can cause hearing loss for two main reasons. Firstly, it impacts the lining of the middle ear, which can cause progressive degeneration of the cells. Secondly, nicotine disrupts the auditory signals from the brain as it blocks out neurotransmitters. Even former smokers will subsequently have a slightly increased risk.

While picking out the right ear defense solutions will still be vital for anyone who is regularly exposed to loud noises, quitting cigarettes can certainly help reduce the risk of hearing loss too.

Illness

The body is the most advanced network of connections. In truth, then, it makes logical sense that an issue with one part of the body could cause a knock-on effect. Minor illnesses like influenza and viral infections may cause temporary hearing loss due to blockages and inflammations. It is why hearing exams are not advised when ill.

Meanwhile, more permanent hearing loss may be caused by meningitis or any other illness that triggers a high temperature. When the cochlea is damaged or the fine hairs are damaged, it can heighten the risk of both temporary and permanent hearing loss – and that’s before considering medications.

It has also been scientifically shown that people with diabetes are up to twice as likely to experience hearing loss. Preventing type 2 diabetes is advised for the sake of your hearing as well as general health.

Pressure Changes

While most people look to protect their ears from loud noises, it should be noted that changes in air pressure can cause both temporary or permanent hearing. If you’ve ever been on a subway and experienced temporary hearing difficulties after entering a tunnel, this is one minor example.

Perhaps more commonly, you could be at risk of damage when scuba diving if you come to the surface too fast. Working with aircraft can be another possible issue. It may also increase the risk of causing progressive hearing loss, which is why finding the right hearing aid styles is vital for anyone that requires them.

To learn more about the causes of hearing loss or to book your hearing examination, call Grusecki Audiology & Hearing Aid Services at 623-583-1737 today.