Hearing Loss is Linked to These Conditions

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

Your body is similar to an ecosystem. In nature, all of the fish and birds will suffer if something happens to the pond; and when the birds go away so too do all of the animals and plants that rely on those birds. The human body, commonly unbeknownst to us, functions on very similar methods of interconnectedness. That’s why something which appears isolated, such as hearing loss, can be linked to a large number of other diseases and ailments.

This is, in a way, proof of the interdependence of your body and it’s resemblance to an ecosystem. Your brain may also be impacted if something affects your hearing. These conditions are called comorbid, a name that is specialized and indicates when two ailments have an affect on each other but don’t always have a cause and effect connection.

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

Conditions Associated With Hearing Loss

So, let’s suppose that you’ve been recognizing the signs of hearing loss for the past couple of months. You’ve been having a tough time hearing conversation when you go out to eat. The volume of your television is constantly getting louder. And some sounds seem so distant. At this point, most people will set up an appointment with a hearing specialist (this is the practical thing to do, actually).

Whether you’re aware of it or not, your hearing loss is linked to a number of other health issues. Comorbidity with hearing loss has been reported with the following health problems.

  • Depression: a whole range of concerns can be the result of social isolation because of hearing loss, many 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.
  • Cardiovascular disease: on occasion hearing loss doesn’t have anything to do with cardiovascular disease. But sometimes hearing loss can be worsened by cardiovascular disease. The explanation for this is that trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear is one of the first signs of cardiovascular disease. Your hearing may suffer as a result of the of that trauma.
  • Diabetes: similarly, diabetes can have a negative affect on your overall body’s nervous system (particularly in your extremities). one of the areas particularly likely to be affected are the nerves in the ear. This damage can cause hearing loss all on its own. But your symptoms can be compounded because diabetes related nerve damage can cause you to be more susceptible to hearing loss from other factors.
  • Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your primary tool for balance. Vertigo and dizziness can be triggered by some types of hearing loss because they have a damaging affect on the inner ear. Falls are increasingly dangerous as you age and falls can happen whenever someone loses their balance
  • Dementia: a higher chance of dementia has been associated with hearing loss, although the base cause of that relationship is uncertain. Research suggests that wearing a hearing aid can help slow down cognitive decline and lower a lot of these dementia risks.

What Can You Do?

It can seem a bit scary when all those health conditions get added together. But it’s worthwhile to keep one thing in mind: tremendous positive impact can be gained by dealing with your hearing loss. Researchers and scientists know that if hearing loss is treated, the risk of dementia substantially lowers even though they don’t really know exactly why dementia and hearing loss manifest together to begin with.

So regardless of what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to get your hearing examined.

Part of an Ecosystem

That’s why more medical specialists are looking at hearing health with new eyes. Your ears are being regarded as a part of your overall health profile rather than being a specific and limited issue. We’re beginning to consider the body as an interconnected environment in other words. Hearing loss isn’t always an isolated situation. So it’s important to pay attention 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.