Hearing Loss and Osteoporosis

When most of us think of hearing loss, we think about exposure to loud noises or the natural aging process as the main culprits, but there are other things that have been linked with hearing loss, one of the most surprising being osteoporosis.

If you are someone who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, or if your physician has told you that you have low bone density, it is really important that you have regular hearing tests performed by a qualified audiologist as there is a strong link between osteoporosis and hearing loss that is becoming clearer every day.

40% Higher Risk

In fact, a study conducted by the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, back in 2021, found that the risk of experiencing hearing loss was 40% higher for women who are diagnosed with osteoporosis or who have low bone density than it is for their peers.

This was an extensive study carried out on 144,000 women, closely tracking their health, so the link between hearing loss and osteoporosis is likely to be a solid one, which should be taken seriously.

Sudden Hearing Loss

There is also somewhat of a connection between sudden hearing loss and osteoporosis, which was noted in a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in 2015. This is hearing loss that happens immediately and generally speaking, only affects one ear, which is why it is so important that you have regular hearing tests if you are someone who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Sudden hearing loss can be scary, but an audiologist can help you come to terms with your condition and ensure you are able to make the best of it and recover as much of your hearing as possible.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the density of bones is much lower than usual. It typically occurs when bone matter starts to break down much more quickly than the body is able to place it. When this happens, experiencers are much more prone to bone fractures than the general population. Although anyone can be diagnosed with osteoporosis at any time, it is much more common for older women, especially white and Asian women, to develop the illness.

Osteoporosis occurs when bones are breaking down faster than the body can replace them, putting a person at higher risk of bone fractures. Anyone can develop it, though it’s most common in Asian and white women. 

How Are Heating Loss and Osteoporosis Linked?

Hearing loss is a really common condition in older people. Exposure to loud noises over a prolonged period of time is the most common cause of hearing loss, but other illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis can also contribute to hearing loss.

How does osteoporosis cause hearing loss? It is likely that the reduction in bone density experienced by people with osteoporosis is the key factor in why it can contribute to hearing loss, although researchers and your audiologist are still not entirely sure why there is a link.

You see, there are a number of very small bones located in the ear that enable us all to pick up and process the sounds we hear around us all the time. If these bones were to become demineralized, it is likely that they would weaken and not be able to do their job quite as well as they do at present.

Although we still do not know exactly how the bones in the ear may be affected by osteoporosis, it is undeniable that there is a link and that means if you have low bone density, you should speak to a qualified audiologist and have your hearing tested as soon as possible.

You should also think about having your hearing tested if you are someone who has had a lot more fractures than average in your life, because this could indicate that you have an issue with your bones, even if you have not been formally diagnosed with anything as of yet.

Hearing loss can happen so gradually that it can be difficult to detect until it has degraded significantly, so by being proactive and having your hearing tested as soon as possible, you can hopefully catch any hearing loss sooner, get the right hearing aids and ensure that you do not experience more loss of hearing than necessary.

Get in touch with Audiology & Hearing Aid Solutions

If you would like to know more about the links between hearing loss and osteoporosis, call Audiology & Hearing Aid Solutions for expert audiologist help at (973) 721-6520 and (201) 375-9081.