Studies show that you are twice as likely to suffer from hearing loss if you have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. That could surprise those of you who automatically associate hearing loss with growing old or noise damage. In 2010, 1.9 million people were diagnosed with diabetes and almost 500,000 of them were under the age of 44. Evidence reveals that 250,000 of those younger people who have the disease likely suffer from some form on hearing loss.
The point is that diabetes is only one of several conditions which can cost a person their hearing. The aging process is a considerable aspect both in disease and hearing loss but what is the relationship between these disorders and ear health? These conditions that cause hearing loss should be taken into consideration.
Diabetes
What the link is between diabetes and hearing loss is unclear but clinical research seems to suggest there is one. A condition that indicates a person may develop type 2 diabetes, called prediabetes, causes people to lose their hearing 30 percent faster than people who don’t have it.
Even though there are some theories, scientists still don’t know why this occurs. It is feasible that damage to the blood vessels that feed the inner ear could be caused by high glucose levels. Diabetes is known to impact circulation, so that is a realistic assumption.
Meningitis
This infectious disease causes hearing loss. Meningitis by definition is inflammation of the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain, commonly due to infection. Studies show that 30 percent of people who have this condition will also lose their hearing, either in part or in full. Among young people in America, this infection is the second leading cause of hearing loss.
Meningitis has the potential to harm the delicate nerves that allow the inner ear to forward signals to the brain. Without these signals, the brain has no way of interpreting sound.
Cardiovascular Disease
Conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels are covered under the umbrella term “cardiovascular disease”. Some common diseases in this category include:
- Heart failure
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Stroke
- Atherosclerosis
- Peripheral artery disease
Age related hearing loss is normally associated with cardiovascular diseases. Injury can easily happen to the inner ear. Damage to the inner ear leads to hearing loss when there is a change in blood flow and it doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients that it needs to thrive.
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. However, this connection could be a coincidence. Kidney disease and other ailments associated with high blood pressure or diabetes have many of the same risk factors.
Toxins that accumulate in the blood as a result of kidney failure might also be to blame, theoretically. The connection that the nerves have with the brain may be closed off because of damage to the ear by these toxins.
Dementia
The connection between loss of hearing and dementia goes both ways. A person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease appears to be increased by cognitive impairment. Brain shrinkage and atrophy are the causes of dementia. Trouble hearing can accelerate that process.
It also works the other way around. As injury to the brain increases a person 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. Hearing loss may affect both ears or only one side. The reason why this happens is the virus damages the cochlea in the inner ear. It’s the part of the ear that sends messages to the brain. The positive thing is, due to vaccination mumps are fairly rare today. Not everyone who gets the mumps will suffer from hearing loss.
Chronic Ear Infections
Treatment clears up the occasional ear infection so it’s not very risky for most people. However, the tiny bones of the inner ear or the eardrum can take serious damage from constantly recurring ear infections. When sound cannot reach the inner ear with enough energy to send 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.