Health issues that seem to have nothing to do with your ears can affect your hearing

If you have any of these conditions, it’s a good idea to get your hearing checked and pay special attention to any changes in your ability to hear.

• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear): Tinnitus affects 1 in 5 people. And 90% of people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss.
• Diabetes: Preventing or successfully managing diabetes may help protect your heath. Hearing loss is twice as common in people who have diabetes, possibly due to inner ear blood vessel damage.
• Cardiovascular Disease: There is a strong correlation between hearing and heart health with hearing loss increasing your risk for cardiovascular disease. Although there is no known direct causal link between hearing loss and heart disease, there is a large body of evidence suggesting a relationship between them.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: Of people who have moderate chronic kidney disease, 54% report hearing loss. Of those who do not have kidney disease, only 28% report hearing problems.

There are also many benefits to ensuring you’re hearing well, including:

• Decreased likelihood of falling: People who hear well are less likely to fall than people with even mild hearing loss. As hearing loss gets worse, the likelihood of falls increases.
• Brighten your mood: Those who receive effective treatment for hearing loss may lower the likelihood of experiencing depression. In a study of 2,300 adults age 50 and older, there was a well-established link between hearing loss and depression.
• Cognitive benefits: Being able to hear well may help you stay mentally sharp. People age 60 and older who have hearing loss have a 35% higher risk of developing cognitive decline than those who have normal hearing. (National Institute on Aging study)
• Avoid hospitalization: Older adults who can hear well are less likely to require hospitalization than their peers who have hearing loss. Older adults with hearing loss are 32% more likely to require hospitalization than their peers with normal hearing.

To learn more about Audiologist Kaitlyn Ostrowski and Audiology Services, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit: winonahealth.org/audiology-services or call 507.474.3065.

Kaitlyn Ostrowski, AuD