A Link between Hearing Loss & Osteoporosis

A Link between Hearing Loss & Osteoporosis

Matt DearingHearing Loss

Hearing Loss affects 48 million people in the US alone and is the 3rd most chronic condition. It’s common to believe that a hearing impairment is only an ear issue while it’s affects are far reaching, including chronic depression, anxiety, sleeplessness and a higher risk of cognitive decline, dementia, falls and hospitalization. The more we can understand how to care for our hearing, the more we can do to prevent it from developing. Our entire health is connected. This is why researchers find that patients who struggle with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic health issues also have higher instances of hearing loss. Now researchers are finding a connection between osteoporosis and hearing loss.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis in Latin translates to mean ‘porous bone.’ This disease weakens bones and increases the risk of unexpected bone fractures. Our bones consist of growing tissue, which is constantly being replenished by the body’s reserve of calcium and other supportive minerals. When the body requires calcium, it uses a process, referred to as bone remodeling to keep bones strong. People below 30 years old, generally have the ability to replenish and rebuild bone by producing more than enough calcium. By the time you reach 35 years old this process slows and bone mass becomes less and more susceptible to breaking. Osteoporosis breaks down bone at a faster rate by not being able to produce enough calcium to support bones. This means that you have less bone mass and strength. You may not know you have it until you have an unexpected break, most commonly in the hip, wrist or spine.

Who Is At Risk?

There are several factors that increase the chance of developing this condition however the most common ones are advanced age and gender. Women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis once they begin menopause. Estrogen protects against bone loss and as these hormone levels decrease the chance for osteoporosis increases. However, people of all genders are affected by this condition, including 80,000 men per year who are expected to break a hip due to the condition. Other factors include lower body weight, being of Asian or Caucasian descent and family history.

Hearing Loss and Osteoporosis

The connection between hearing loss and osteoporosis occurs in the tiny fragile bones of the inner and middle ear. As osteoporosis becomes worse all the bones of the body suffer including the ones you rely on to hear. A study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed data from nearly 144,000 women over 34 years and found that those with moderate or worse hearing loss was up to 40% higher in study participants with osteoporosis. “Adult onset hearing loss is typically irreversible; therefore, (we) focus on identifying potentially modifiable risk factors that may contribute to hearing loss,” said study leader Sharon Curhan, MD, ScM,. “We were inspired by a recent study that found that “The differing findings between these skeletal sites may reflect differences in the composition and metabolism of the bones in the spine and in the hip,” Curhan explains. “These findings could provide new insight into the changes in the bone that surrounds the middle and inner ear that may contribute to hearing loss.”

Preventing Osteoporosis

While many of the factors, which increase the likeliness of developing osteoporosis, may seem out of your control, this is not completely true. Making sure to eat a healthy diet with substantial levels of calcium and vitamin D can prevent the condition from progressing. Avoiding excessive use of tobacco and alcohol also can decrease your risk. “Osteoporosis and low bone density may be important contributors to aging-related hearing loss,” Curhan said. “Building lifelong healthy diet and lifestyle habits could provide important benefits for protecting bone and hearing health in the future.”

Treating Your Hearing Loss

If you do have hearing loss, it is important to treat it as soon as possible. While it is an irreversible condition, it can be treated with hearing aids, which amplify sounds around you and help you navigate the world around you. If you do have osteoporosis and hearing loss, it is more important than ever to wear hearing aids. These tiny devices increase your sense of space and help prevent falls, which could have devastating consequences for those with low bone density. Make an appointment for a hearing test today and stay on top of your health.