Hearing Loss Causes and Effects

By Gary Mendelson, AuD

The Mendelson Group

. https://www.iheargreat.com/

More Hearing Health Articles

Hearing Loss Causes and Effects

Causes

Diabetes. Hearing loss occurs almost twice as often in adults who have diabetes than in those who don't, likely due to inner ear changes caused by high blood sugar.

Heart Disease. Low-frequency hearing loss and heart disease may be related, due to the inner ear's sensitivity to blood flow.

Kidney Disease. An estimated 54% of American adults with chronic kidney disease have hearing loss, possibly caused by toxins related to kidney failure.

Aging. Age-related hearing loss affects more men than women and, while permanent, is treatable with hearing devices.

Noise-Induced Trauma. Excessive noise damages inner ear hair cells, which normally convert sound into electrical signals that travel to the brain.

Effects

Dementia. For those 6o years and older, the severity of untreated hearing loss is closely related to the risk of dementia, perhaps due to shared brain pathways.

Isolation/Depression. Communication challenges can lead to embarrassment, social isolation and an increased risk for depression.

Cognitive Decline. Hearing loss may be associated with changed brain structure and reduced brain volume.

Risk of Falls. Hearing loss can cause diminished spatial awareness or reduced attention capacity – which can increase the risk of falls.

Difficulty With Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Fewer environmental cues can lead to difficulty in performing daily living activities.