Hearing Aid Expert Explains Links Between Smoking & Hearing Loss

Tobacco use is a well-known risk factor for hearing loss. Excessive exposure to cigarette smoke, whether direct or secondhand, it has been shown significantly to impact a person's hearing health, says an expert of hearing aids in Kolkata.

A recent study discovered links between chronic smoking and hearing problems. The study looked at hearing loss patterns over 30 years in three groups: never/former smokers, smokers who quit during the study period and smokers who continued to smoke. Those who never quit smoking performed worse on hearing tests.

Older studies have discovered similar patterns—and the increased risk extends even to nonsmokers living with a smoker, who were twice as likely to develop hearing impairment as those who were not exposed.

Young smokers' hearing health is also jeopardized. According to a study, teens who have been exposed to cigarette smoke are two to three times more likely to develop hearing issues than those who have had little or no exposure.

Smoking is also strongly connected to tinnitus, dizziness and vertigo, says the specialist of hearing loss treatment in Kolkata.

What effect does smoking have on hearing?

Both nicotine and carbon monoxide reduces oxygen levels in blood and constricts blood vessels throughout your body, including those in your inner ear responsible for hair cell health. Furthermore, nicotine and cigarette smoke are thought to: 

• Interfere with neurotransmitters in the auditory nerve, which are in charge of telling the brain which sound you are hearing

• Irritate the Eustachian tube and middle ear lining

• Cause the release of free radicals, which can damage DNA and cause diseases

• Increase your sensitivity to loud noises, making you more susceptible to developing noise-induced hearing loss

If you have hearing loss

If you smoke, make quitting your top priority since it will significantly improve your health. If you're concerned about your hearing, your next step should be to schedule a hearing exam with a local hearing healthcare specialist to get yourself checked and get proper help, says the expert of a hearing aid centre in Kolkata.