6 Serious Conditions Related to Hearing Loss
Although we often think of hearing loss as a
minor annoyance, it turns out that it can lead to several serious
complications in physical health, mental health, and social activity.
Over 5% of the world’s population, an estimated 466 million people, have
a serious degree of hearing loss according to the World Health
Organization, and these numbers keep climbing up. While there are many
causes of the condition ranging from genetic factors to infections and
just normal aging, to name a few, the effects of the debilitating
condition on one’s physical and mental health are similar and alarming.
In the past few decades, researchers have
noticed that people with impaired hearing have a higher risk of other,
seemingly unrelated physical and mental health conditions, such as
Alzheimer's disease, depression, and an increased risk of balance issues
and falls in seniors, among others. These conditions, also known in the
medical sphere as comorbidities, have been the reason why people with
hearing problems have a higher mortality rate. Below we discuss 6 such
conditions related to hearing loss, for you to know and remember.
1. Higher Risks of Falls
As you may be aware, our vestibular system, a
sensory organ located in our ears, is responsible for sending
information about spatial orientation to the brain, and so it plays a
key role in our sense of balance, especially during movement. There is
evidence to suggest that hearing loss also often comes with damage to
the vestibular system, which could lead to balance issues and an
increased likelihood of falls.
As we age, our hearing often worsens, as do our other senses, but our
bones and muscles also become much weaker, and so a fall can lead to
serious injuries. As a matter of fact, falls are the leading cause of
injuries among the elderly and the main reason for trauma-related
emergency room visits in the senior population. A study was conducted in
2,017 people aged 40-69 between 2001-2004 to examine the relation of
falls and hearing loss, and the researchers found that every 10dB
hearing loss increased the odds of a fall 1.4-fold.
Though more research needs to be conducted to examine this association,
given the seriousness of the issue, we believe it is crucial to be
informed and wary of the possibility of hearing loss contributing to
falls in seniors, as it stresses the importance of hearing aids and
regular hearing exams in the elderly.
2. Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
One of the most well-researched
correlations is between hearing loss and the risks of dementia and
Alzheimer's disease. Since the early 2000s, there have been a number of
studies in the elderly population entertaining the possibility that
hearing loss can increase one's risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
These studies have shown that significant hearing loss can increase
one's likelihood of suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease
after the age of 65.
The largest-ever study on the topic was conducted in Germany, and it
sheds some light on the reason why hearing loss contributes to cognitive
decline. The study looked at 154,783 participants aged 65 and up, and
it followed their progress over the course of 5 years, controlling for
other known comorbidities of dementia. The results have revealed that
only those with bilateral hearing loss had a higher incidence of
dementia, leading scientists to suggest that it's likely the lack of
communication with others, rather than the hearing loss itself, that
increases the risk of dementia.
As Donal Schum, the vice president of
audiology at Oticon mentioned in an interview with Considerable, "We are
in no way saying that getting hearing aids prevents dementia or
Alzheimer’s — we’re not anywhere near that — but we do recognize how
important social interaction is in the later years, and it’s tricky to
create those environments for yourself if you allow yourself to become
more isolated because of hearing loss.” This brings us right to the next
point on our list, social isolation.
3. Social Isolation
We've all had a scoop of social isolation in 2020, and we can all say
with crystal clear certainty that it's not too pleasant. Imagine feeling
like that all the time... and with hearing loss, that is often the
reality. Since hearing loss is mostly gradual, family and friends may
not notice that their loved one is becoming more estranged because of
their hearing loss and attribute their behavior to something else.
This is a common occurrence, and one that shouldn't be taken lightly, as
poor hearing can absolutely make communication more difficult, and a
lack of social communication can easily lead to problems with emotional
well-being and mental health.
4. Diabetes
Let's clarify from the get-go, hearing loss
isn't causing diabetes, it's actually the other way around, but hearing
loss can be a useful indicator for the diagnosis of the condition
nevertheless. This is because millions of people worldwide, and 8.1
million people in the US alone have undiagnosed diabetes, so taking into
account any new symptom or indication of the disease is crucial for
better and more widespread diagnoses.
But how does diabetes affect hearing? Studies suggest that the condition
can reduce the blood flow to the cochlea, thus causing hearing loss.
Moreover, high blood glucose levels can damage the fine blood vessels
and nerves in the ears, which can also contribute to hearing loss.
5. Cardiovascular Issues
Hearing loss could also sometimes indicate
that you have cardiovascular issues. This was first observed in a 2009
study that reported low-frequency hearing loss raises the risk of
cardiovascular events, so much so that such patients should be
considered at risk of such diseases and even stroke.
Although scientists know very little about this specific correlation as
of now, they suggest that the reason why patients with cardiovascular
issues may experience hearing loss is due to a pathology of the vessels
in the cerebrovascular system. Interestingly, this is mostly
characteristic of those who can't hear low-frequency sounds, as opposed
to generalized hearing loss.
6. Depression
The social isolation and the realization of
one's physical limitations common for hearing loss can be quite
depressing. As a matter of fact, research shows that depression is
common in patients experiencing hearing loss specifically because
difficulties with having a conversation can isolate you from other
people.
Research supports this observation, and it further specifies that
loneliness and depression can also increase the risk of cognitive
decline and dementia in particular. One study, for example, found that
those who feel lonely and depressed had a higher incidence of cortical
amyloid plaques - the signature symptom of Alzheimer's disease.
Furthermore, depression has a number of other adverse effects, such as
chronic body aches, headaches, epilepsy, and even multiple sclerosis.
If you're experiencing any symptoms of depression due to hearing loss,
make sure to seek treatment, as these days, hearing problems are highly
treatable.