These Diseases Have Been Connected to Hearing Loss

Man talking with healthcare provider about his diabetes and hearing loss.

Your body and an ecosystem are similar in some ways. In nature, all of the fish and birds will be affected if something goes wrong with the pond; and all of the plants and animals that depend on the birds will disappear if the birds disappear. The human body, frequently unbeknownst to us, works on very comparable methods of interconnectedness. That’s the reason why something that seems isolated, such as hearing loss, can be linked to a large number of other ailments and diseases.

In a sense, that’s just more proof of your body’s ecosystem-like interdependence. Your brain might also be impacted if something affects your hearing. We call these circumstances comorbid, a name that is specialized and indicates when two ailments affect each other but don’t necessarily have a cause and effect relationship.

We can learn a lot regarding our bodies’ ecosystem by comprehending disorders that are comorbid with hearing loss.

Diseases Associated With Hearing Loss

So, let’s suppose that you’ve been noticing the signs of hearing loss for the past couple of months. You’ve been having a tough time hearing what people are saying when you go out for a bite. You’ve been cranking up the volume on your tv. And some sounds sound so distant. When this is the situation, the majority of people will make an appointment with a hearing specialist (this is the smart thing to do, actually).

Your hearing loss is linked to several health conditions whether your aware of it or not. Some of the health conditions that have reported comorbidity with hearing loss include:

  • Cardiovascular disease: hearing loss and cardiovascular conditions aren’t necessarily connected. In other situations, cardiovascular problems can make you more susceptible to hearing loss. That’s because one of the initial signs of cardiovascular disease is trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear. As that trauma escalates, your hearing could suffer as a result.
  • Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your primary tool for balance. Vertigo and dizziness can be caused by some types of hearing loss because they have a negative affect on the inner ear. Falls are increasingly dangerous as you age and falls can occur whenever someone loses their balance
  • Depression: a whole range of issues can be the result of social isolation due to hearing loss, some of which relate to your mental health. So anxiety and depression, not surprisingly, have been found in study after study, to have a high rate of comorbidity with hearing loss.
  • Diabetes: additionally, diabetes can wreak havoc with your entire body’s nervous system (particularly in your extremities). the nerves in the ear are especially likely to be harmed. Hearing loss can be wholly caused by this damage. But diabetes-related nerve damage can also make you more vulnerable to hearing loss caused by other factors, often compounding your symptoms.
  • Dementia: a higher chance of dementia has been linked to hearing loss, although the base cause of that relationship is uncertain. Many of these cases of dementia and also cognitive decline can be reduced, according to research, by using hearing aids.

What’s The Answer?

It can seem a bit frightening when you add all those health conditions together. But one thing should be kept in mind: dealing with your hearing loss can have huge positive effects. Scientists and researchers understand that if hearing loss is addressed, the chance of dementia substantially lowers even though they don’t really know exactly why dementia and hearing loss manifest together to begin with.

So the best way to go, no matter what comorbid condition you might be concerned about, is to get your hearing checked.

Part of an Ecosystem

This is the reason why health care specialists are reconsidering the importance of how to manage hearing loss. Instead of being a somewhat limited and targeted area of concern, your ears are thought of as intimately linked to your overall wellness. We’re starting to consider the body as an interconnected environment in other words. Hearing loss isn’t an isolated scenario. So it’s more significant than ever that we keep your eye on the entirety, not to the proverbial pond or the birds in isolation, but to your health as a whole.

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.