Hearing Diseases and Health Concerns

Learn about hearing diseases and symptoms.

Is hearing loss linked to other diseases and conditions?

Hearing plays an important role in our health. You may be surprised by how hearing health affects and is affected by other systems in our body, from mental health to physical health. Hearing loss is connected to many other health conditions throughout the body. While hearing loss may not be the cause of these diseases or conditions, it is considered a risk factor for many.

Common related diseases and risk factors

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Tinnitus

Tinnitus refers to the sensation of perceiving sounds, such as ringing or buzzing, that have no external source—in other words, hearing sounds that are not there.

Learn about tinnitus
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Meniere's Disease

Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that causes recurring episodes of severe dizziness (vertigo), ear pressure, tinnitus and hearing loss. It typically affects only one ear, although some people experience symptoms in both ears. 

More on Meniere's Disease
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Heart disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, representing one in four deaths every year. The link between heart disease and hearing loss has been well established for years. 

Learn about heart disease
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Dementia

Treating hearing loss aggressively can actually help ward off cognitive decline and dementia. Several factors account for the connection between hearing loss and dementia. 

Learn more about dementia
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Thyroid disease

The thyroid is a gland that sits below the Adam’s apple and is responsible for releasing hormones that control the metabolism. Hypothyroidism is a condition of low production of thyroid hormones, often caused by autoimmune disease. 

Hearing and thyroid's link
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Sleep apnea

An estimated 18 million Americans experience sleep apnea. This condition causes their breathing to slow too much and even stop for short periods while they sleep. 

Find sleep and hearing's link
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Diabetes

Diabetes and hearing loss are two of the biggest health problems facing Americans today. Studies suggest there is crossover between the millions of Americans with diabetes and the 34.5 million Americans who have hearing loss.

Discover more
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Labyrinthitis

A quick description of labyrinthitis (pronounced “lab-uh-rinth-itis”) might make it sound like a fairly simple thing: inflammation of the inner ear and the nerves that connect the area to the brain. 

Learn more about labyrinthitis

Do you hear music where there isn't any?

Discover Musical Ear Syndrome
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