Woman with diabetes thinking about hearing loss.

Studies indicate that people who have diabetes are twice as likely to suffer from hearing loss, according to the American Diabetes Association. If you are someone that associates hearing loss with getting old or noise damage, this may surprise you. Close to 500,000 of the1.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 were under the age of 44. Evidence reveals that 250,000 of those younger people with the disease likely suffer from some form on hearing loss.

A person’s hearing can be damaged by quite a few diseases besides diabetes. Aging is a major factor both in illness and hearing loss but what is the link between these conditions and ear health? These illnesses that cause hearing loss should be taken into consideration.

Diabetes

What the link is between diabetes and hearing loss is not clear but clinical research seems to suggest there is one. People who have prediabetes, a condition that implies they might develop type 2 diabetes, tend to lose their hearing 30 percent faster than those with normal blood sugar levels.

While there are some theories, researchers still don’t understand why this occurs. It is feasible that high glucose levels could cause damage to the blood vessels that feed the inner ear. That’s a realistic assumption since diabetes is known to influence circulation.

Meningitis

Hearing loss is a symptom of this infectious disease. Meningitis by definition is inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, usually due to infection. Studies show that 30 percent of people will lose their hearing in part or in full if they develop this condition. This infection is the second most common reason for hearing loss in the American youth.

The fragile nerves that send signals to the inner ear are potentially injured by meningitis. The brain has no way to interpret sound without these signals.

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella label that relates to conditions that impact the heart or blood vessels. This category contains these well-known diseases:

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Stroke
  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • High blood pressure

Age related hearing loss is commonly associated with cardiovascular diseases. The inner ear is susceptible to harm. When there is a change in blood flow, it may not get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to thrive, and injury to the inner ear then leads to hearing loss.

Chronic Kidney Disease

A 2012 study published in The Laryngoscope found that people have an increased risk of losing their hearing if they have this condition. A separate study found that chance to be as high as 43 percent. It is possible that this relationship is a coincidence, though. Kidney disease and other ailments involving high blood pressure or diabetes have lots of the same risk factors.

Another hypothesis is that the toxins that collect in the blood due to kidney failure may be the culprit. The connection that the nerves have with the brain might be closed off due to damage to the ear by these toxins.

Dementia

The connection between hearing loss and dementia goes both ways. There is some evidence that cognitive impairment increases a person’s risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Brain shrinkage and atrophy are the causes of dementia. That process is accelerated by hearing loss.

It also works the other way around. As injury to the brain increases someone who has dementia will have a decline in their hearing even though their hearing is normal.

Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection that can cause children to lose their hearing when they’re very young. The decrease in hearing might be only on one side or it may affect both ears. The reason this occurs is the virus damages the cochlea in the inner ear. Messages are sent to the brain by this portion of the ear. The good thing is mumps is pretty scarce these days due to vaccinations. Not everyone will experience hearing loss if they get the mumps.

Chronic Ear Infections

For the majority of people, the random ear infection is not much of a risk because treatment gets rid of it. For some, though, infection after infection take a toll on the tiny pieces that are needed for hearing such as the eardrum or the small bones in the middle ear. When sound cannot get to the inner ear with enough energy to deliver signals to the brain it’s called conductive hearing loss. Infections can also lead to a sensorineural hearing loss, which means nerve damage.

Many of the illnesses that can lead to hearing loss can be avoided by prevention. Throughout your life protecting your hearing will be achievable if you exercise regularly, get the right amount of sleep, and have a healthy diet. You should also get regular hearing exams to make sure your ears stay healthy.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.
Why wait? You don't have to live with hearing loss. Call or Text Us