Health Issues Related to Hearing

If you’re like most people, you’ve put off dealing with your hearing loss. In fact, studies show that the average person waits 7 years before seeking help.

Unfortunately, these people may be putting themselves at risk for serious health issues such as cognitive decline, anxiety, depression and an increased risk of falls. Painless, easy and possibly covered by insurance, hearing tests are one way to help protect yourself from these issues. They can also help you uncover health concerns early on so you can get them treated before they become serious. Here are just a few of the health issues a hearing test and evaluation can uncover.

Heart Health and Circulation

Your inner ear has only one blood vessel to supply it with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It’s, therefore, one of the first things affected by poor circulation, blood pressure issues or heart disease. Because hearing tests allow you to detect and monitor subtle changes in your hearing, it can help you detect some of the first signs that your circulation has changed.

Meniere’s Disease

Meniere’s Disease causes an imbalance of fluid in the ear, which makes you dizzy, nauseous and can bring on tinnitus.

Padget’s Disease

This is a bone disorder where the skull grows larger than it should causing pain in the head, nerves, joints and bones. There’s a strong association between Padget’s disease and hearing loss. When caught early, Padget’s disease can be managed.

Woman learning about how hearing loss can affect her health

Other Health Issues
Related to Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is also often a sign of:

  • Diabetes: Hearing loss occurs almost twice as often in adults who have diabetes than those who don’t.
  • Dementia: Research indicates the severity of hearing loss is closely related to the risk of dementia.
  • Vision loss: Untreated vision and hearing loss can increase the risk of falls and difficulty in performing activities of daily life.
  • Ototoxicity: More than a 100 classes of commonly used over-the-counter drugs and prescriptions can cause damage to the inner ear.
  • Kidney Disease: 54% of adults with chronic kidney disease have hearing loss, possibly caused by toxins related to kidney failure.

Given the connections between hearing loss and your overall health, it pays to get hearing tests on a regular basis.