Scientists and audiologists are constantly discovering disorders that can enhance a person’s risk of getting hearing loss. Now they have found a connection between hearing loss and Osteoporosis. According to a 2015 study, people who have Osteoporosis are more prone to develop hearing loss.

Bones are essential to our hearing

The appropriate functioning of tiny bones within the middle ear is required for the inner workings of our ears, and they are essential in our listening process. As we reach our twenties, the rate of bone loss and regeneration begins to reduce. Many of us will have attained what is known as “peak bone mass” by the time we are in our thirties.

We are at a higher risk of Osteoporosis as we reach middle age. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes the density of our bones to deteriorate, making them fragile and subject to breaking and fracture.

Some of the following circumstances, over which we have little influence, have a significant impact on this degenerative condition:

Body frame dimensions: Women and men with a lesser bone structure have less mass to sustain and preserve.
History of the family: If either your parents or a sibling has Osteoporosis, the odds are that you will as well.
Sex: Women, mainly Asian and Caucasian women, are at higher risk, increasing after menopause.
Age: As we get older, it gets worse.
Race: Asians and Europeans are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Diet, hormone levels, drugs, and poor lifestyle choices are just a few of the other factors at play.

Our loss of bone overtakes our ability to rebuild bone as we age. It stands to reason that osteoporosis and hearing loss are linked. If we have Osteoporosis, our risks of hearing loss will increase.

A link between osteoporosis and hearing loss

Between 2009 and 2011, a large study in Korea with over 5,000 men and women over 50 was conducted. Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the researchers investigated the link between age-related hearing loss and Osteoporosis. It compared the data of people who had been diagnosed with Osteoporosis to those who had not.

When the data was evaluated, it was discovered that Osteoporosis increases the chance of hearing loss by 1.7 times.

Between 1999 and 2008, nearly 10,000 Taiwanese citizens with Osteoporosis were examined in another study. It was compared to another group of approximately 30,000 residents who were free of Osteoporosis, using data from national insurance records. According to the findings, the number of patients diagnosed with Osteoporosis who developed sensorineural or abrupt hearing loss in 2011 was twice that of the second group.

According to Kai-Jen Tien, MD, of Taiwan’s Chi Mei Medical Center and one of the study’s authors:

“A growing body of evidence indicates that osteoporosis affects not only bone health, but the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems…Our findings suggest sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) can be another broader health problem connected to osteoporosis.”

Keep your bones strong with preventative steps

Here are some things you can do to help keep your bones strong

Maintain a healthy body weight; too much or too little might be hazardous and leave you vulnerable to fractures and breaks.
Calcium, which can be found in leafy vegetables, soy, salmon, cereals, and dairy, should be increased from 1000 milligrams to 1,200 milligrams per day beyond 50.
To digest calcium, we require Vitamin D. If you don’t receive enough light or sun exposure isn’t recommended for you, take 400 IU (International Units) each day in supplements.
Weightlifting, aerobic, and balancing exercises that are proportionately mixed should be undertaken. Tai chi is an excellent technique for keeping your balance.

A healthcare provider should discuss the preceding information and suggestions to tailor your treatment plan to your specific needs.

Our team is here to address any questions about your hearing health. We look forward to meeting you first and beginning a relationship with your hearing health and overall wellness. Contact us today to set up an appointment.