Many believe they understand what it is that causes hearing loss. It seems that if we’re too close to loud sounds, or as we get older, hearing loss is natural. Or, perhaps we become unlucky and it just happens one day without previous warning. Of course, no hearing loss will happen without a cause, but in general, these three things can happen, even if untimely hearing loss does have signifiers like many other medical conditions. Yet they’re hardly the only possible causes.
The truth is that our capacity for hearing is a highly complex and sophisticated system, and it’s very easy for something to affect it. You may encounter hearing loss as a side effect of other medical issues, for example.
In order to provide a complete view, sometimes it’s healthy to discuss some of the main and lesser-known influences of hearing loss, and what they could signify to someone who requires evaluation from an audiologist.
In this post, we hope to talk about three different options that could count here. Without further ado, please consider:
Medications
You probably don’t think much about the medications you take affecting your hearing, but many common drugs can actually impact how well you hear. This is often called ototoxicity and you can get a better understanding in this linked resource. Some antibiotics can damage the inner ear structures when taken for longer periods of time, and some pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen, when taken in high doses, might cause temporary ringing in your ears or slight hearing changes.
Cancer treatments can be another risk, as while many chemotherapy drugs save lives, they can sometimes affect hearing as they battle cancer cells. The effect isn’t always immediate either. Sometimes hearing problems show up weeks or months after treatment ends. Moreover, heart medications, especially those for high blood pressure, occasionally contribute to hearing issues too.
Autoimmune Disorders
Your body’s defense system sometimes makes mistakes, which means that with autoimmune disorders, your immune system attacks parts of your own body, including the delicate structures in your ears. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus can affect your hearing in that way.
The hearing loss from autoimmune issues usually happens gradually, as you might notice sounds fading over weeks or months rather than suddenly disappearing. Sometimes your ears feel full or you hear ringing sounds alongside the hearing changes. The strange part is that these symptoms often come and go, making them easy to dismiss at first. If you’re at all concerned, be sure to speak to your audiologist.
Tumors
Hearing loss from tumors sounds scary, but it’s actually quite rare. Most growths that affect hearing aren’t cancerous, as acoustic neuromas, for example, grow slowly on the nerve connecting your ear to your brain. They don’t spread to other body parts but can press against important structures as they grow.
The symptoms develop in strange ways compared to usual hearing loss, as you might notice hearing fading in just one ear, not both. Balance problems sometimes appear alongside the hearing changes as well. Many people also experience ringing or fullness in the affected ear before they notice actual hearing loss, but again, speak to your hearing professional if you’re concerned.
With this advice, you’re sure to know further lesser-known causes of hearing loss.
