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Hearing Loss Comorbidities
The term comorbidity refers to the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases, or the presence of one or more additional disorders occurring simultaneously with a primary disorder.
Hearing loss, the third most common medical condition in the US, may occur with comorbidities, depending on a person’s medical history and lifestyle. Here, we explore the comorbidities linked with hearing loss.
Hearing Loss and Dementia
It is the brain that hears, not the ears. With hearing loss, sound signals are not clearly transmitted to the brain, which increases the brain’s cognitive load as it struggles to fill in the gaps and causes the deterioration of neural pathways that are not used to transmit sound signals. In 2011, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that hearing loss and dementia are potentially linked, as a heavier cognitive load due to hearing loss expedites natural, age-related cognitive decline. Researchers monitored 639 subjects over 12 to 18 years, recording their cognitive and hearing abilities, and found that the worse the initial hearing, the higher the risk for developing dementia. On the positive side, another study in 2011 in Japan found that by treating hearing loss early on with the prescription of hearing aids, subjects showed improvement in their cognitive ability.
Hearing Loss and Cerebrovascular & Cardiovascular Disorders
Heart disease is the most common medical condition in the US, and it is linked to hearing loss. The circulatory system plays a crucial role in the auditory system and nervous system, both of which enable us to hear. High blood pressure and limited blood flow have adverse effects on hearing. Some cases of hearing loss have been linked to people with cerebrovascular and/or cardiovascular disorders, as well as smokers. Often times, hearing loss may indicate medical issues related to the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular systems. For example, diabetes has been linked with hearing loss, as diabetes causes elevated blood glucose levels that lead to stroke, heart attack, or hypertension.
Hearing Loss and Cancer Treatments
Cancer treatments have been linked to hearing loss, due to certain classes of ototoxic (“poisoning of the ear”) drugs used in chemotherapy. For example, Cisplatin, a common anticancer drug, has 69% ototoxicity at a dose less than 200 milligrams. These drugs damage your inner ear hair cells, which do not regenerate, leading to permanent sensorineural hearing loss. If you notice changes in your hearing during cancer treatment, notify your physician. There are other classes of drugs that are poisonous to your ears, such as antibiotics and diuretics.
Hearing Loss and Depression
Hearing loss has been linked with depression, due to the factor of social isolation that affects people who do not seek treatment. Because hearing loss interferes with speech recognition and ability to discern sounds against background noise in loud environments, people who experience hearing loss are more likely to avoid social situations and continue engaging as they once did before changes in their hearing. This isolation and inactivity takes a toll on people who once lead active lives, engaging with their friends, family, and community. People with untreated hearing loss may also experience higher levels of stress and anxiety. Treating hearing loss early on ensures that neural pathways for speech recognition do not deteriorate, while keeping people connected with their loved ones.
