Hearing loss is simply what happens when sound from the world around us isn’t communicated to the brain properly, for whatever reason. It can affect us in many different ways, but can also be treated effectively to restore the sounds we’ve been missing.
What is the biggest cause of hearing loss?
The most common type of hearing loss is called presbycusis, which occurs due to gradual wear and tear to our ‘hearing cells’ over time as we age.
These cells are tiny hairs in our inner ear and there are around 15,000 of them. They pick up sound waves and change them into the nerve signals that your brains interpret as sound.
Presbycusis typically affects both ears equally. It makes it difficult to follow conversations, and softer sounds, such as s, th and f, can also get lost in background noise.
Hearing aids are usually recommended for presbycusis, bringing improvements to both hearing and quality of life.
Can high blood pressure affect your ears?
Hypertension can accelerate the ‘wear and tear’ of the auditory system in your ears. Research has shown that long-term hypertension is also linked with fatty plaque build-up in your blood vessels, depriving your ear and internal structures of much-needed blood and nutrients.
The end result is that high blood pressure over both the short and long term can have a noticeable effect on your hearing.
The current theory is that very high blood pressure can permanently damage the tiny blood vessels in your ears, reducing your ability to hear the full spectrum of sound
Common causes of mixed hearing loss
A mixed hearing loss refers to the experience of having both sensorineural (affecting the inner ear) and conductive (affecting the middle and outer ear) hearing loss at the same time. This can lead to more severe hearing loss than if you were affected by one type alone.
Mixed hearing loss often has more than one cause but can also occur when one factor affects the ear in different ways. For example, if you had a long-standing infection, then you might experience conductive hearing loss due to physical blockage. You might experience this alongside eventual sensorineural loss as the infection affects the hair and nerve cells of the inner ear.
To prevent mixed hearing loss, it’s important to address the root causes of both the sensorineural and conductive hearing loss you're experiencing.
Diabetes and hearing loss
Glucose levels
The effect that diabetes can have on our blood vessels and nerves can cause issues with our ears, sometimes causing an ‘injury’ to the inner ear which can affect hearing. Unstable blood glucose levels can also put us at greater risk of hearing loss.
While it’s unclear exactly what happens, scientists have found that high blood sugar levels can damage the small blood vessels in the inner ear, affecting blood circulation in that part of our ear.¹¹ Hearing can also be affected if we have low blood sugar.
Research has found that this is because low blood sugar is one of the factors that can create a chemical imbalance in the fluid found in the ear.¹⁶,¹⁷ This fluid has a specific make-up which allows the cochlea to function properly, so if this is altered it can change the way the ear processes sounds.
If you have diabetes you may start to notice subtle changes to your hearing, particularly with high-frequency sounds. For example, you may find vowel sounds easy to identify, but the letters f, s, t and z, may be more difficult for you to notice. Or sounds with higher octaves, like birdsong, may not be as clear.
Ear infections
People with diabetes have an increased risk of infection and related complications. One type of common ear infection is malignant otitis externa, which only affects people with diabetes.
This is an infection of the external ear canal and skull base, which usually affects older people with diabetes. The infection is caused by bacteria and can spread to surrounding areas (like the jawbones or face) if it’s left untreated.
Sudden hearing loss can be a symptom of this infection, so you should get your ears checked quickly if you have diabetes and experience sudden hearing loss. Diabetic people can also be at a higher risk of developing inner ear infections due to excess insulin. So controlling your insulin levels and having regular check-ups are important to avoid both of these types of infection.
If you have diabetes you may experience hearing loss to some extent, but maintaining stable blood sugar levels should help you reduce the impact of your diabetes on your hearing. It’s also important to seek early treatment for injury and infection, protect your ears from prolonged exposure to high noise levels, and quit smoking as it can increase the risk of hearing loss.
If you suspect any change in your hearing, it’s a good idea to book a free appointment to get your hearing checked by a hearing expert. Read about the symptoms of hearing loss here.
Learn more about hearing loss
With accurate diagnosis and treatment, the majority of people are able to improve their hearing and get back to their daily lives as normal. Remember that most ear conditions are treatable and do not develop into long-term conditions.
To learn more about hearing, ear health, and how to protect your hearing, visit our information hub on hearing loss.
If you feel that you need to speak to an expert or are concerned about any aspect of your hearing or hearing loss, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with your local store or book an appointment. Our hearing experts are ready to help.
You can also test your hearing for free using our online hearing test.