Strange Causes of Hearing Loss

Unfortunately, hearing loss is becoming more and more common amongst the population. This might not be so surprising considering the fact that so few people are aware of many of the causes of a reduction in hearing. Sure, we all know that prolonged exposure to loud noises can cause us to lose some or all of our hearing, as can serious ear infections, but that really is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you want to be more proactive about preventing hearing loss, take a look at the following strange things that can cause it:

Smoking

We all know by now that smoking is a really bad idea. It can cause so many issues, from cancer to heart disease that it really isn’t worth taking it up, but did you know it can also increase the risk of an individual’s hearing loss too? According to research, if you are a smoker, you could be up to 70 percent more likely to suffer from hearing loss than your peers. Why is this the case? Probably because many of the chemicals that are released in cigarette smoke, including arsenic and cyanide, can damage the hair and cells located on the inner ear. Since these are responsible for sending sound information to the brain, it is not easy to see how smoking could cause a serious problem.

Shingles

Shingles, or herpes zoster as it is technically known, is a common illness, particularly in senior citizens. It has a number of common symptoms including itchy inflamed skin, rashes and fever. It can, as a hearing specialist will tell you, also cause Ramsay Hunt syndrome. This is a condition that affects the ear and can lead to severe loss of hearing. Thankfully, if it is treated early, it is not always a permanent loss, so if you have shingles and you start to notice a degradation in your hearing, act fast.

Measles

Another illness that can cause hearing loss is measles. It only happens in roughly one-tenth of cases, and it’s rare for it to cause total hearing loss, but any losses suffered can be permanent.

Airbags

Airbags are an excellent invention that have undoubtedly saved millions of lives over the years, so no one would suggest that you forgo them if you’re a driver, however, it is interesting to know that around 17 percent of people who have been involved in auto accidents where the airbags were deployed have suffered from hearing loss. It just goes to show that there are good and bad consequences for everything in life.

Chemotherapy

If you have cancer, then there is a good chance that you will need to undergo chemotherapy and this is something that might just save your life, so you should not go without it unless you have a good reason. However, it is the case that some of the drugs used in chemotherapy – specifically the ones that contain platinum – can cause hearing loss.

Now that you know more about some less common causes of hearing loss, you can start making better decisions about your health and lifestyle, and hopefully get the right treatment before it is too late.