Can stress cause hearing loss?

Learn about the connection between stress and hearing loss and when to seek help

Stress is a normal part of life, from day-to-day challenges to navigating feelings of grief. Stress is often a minor inconvenience that goes away over time, but severe cases can lead to bigger complications like restlessness, anxiety, stomach pain and even hearing loss. Learn the different types of stress, how stress and hearing loss are linked, and strategies for coping with stress-related hearing loss.

Key Takeaways

Stress is the body’s response to any demand, pleasant or unpleasant and can affect your mind, body and relationships.
Symptoms of stress include anxiety, irritability, headaches, sleep disturbances and, in some cases, hearing loss.
Chronic and emotional stress release hormones that can disrupt the hearing system and lead to issues like tinnitus, hearing loss and auditory hallucinations.
Stress-related temporary hearing loss is usually reversible and can be managed through relaxation techniques and therapy.
Individuals with stress-related hearing loss should seek professional help when their symptoms begin to affect daily life and well-being.

Definition of stress

Stress is a feeling some of us know all too well. But what does the term really mean? According to the American Institute of Stress, “Stress is the body’s nonspecific response to any demand—pleasant or unpleasant.”

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Types of stress

Stress can affect your mind, body and relationships, but it’s not always negative. In some situations, like preparing for a big test or job interview, stress can promote focus and effort. At other times, stress can lead to negative effects like anxiety, irritability, headaches and sleep disturbances, and in some cases, hearing loss. (More on this later.)

Here is an overview of the different types of stress:

Acute stress: Results from immediate stressors or challenging situations
Chronic stress: Occurs over an extended period
Traumatic stress: Follows traumatic events like natural disasters or accidents
Environmental stress: Arises due to challenging conditions in one’s surroundings, like noise, pollution or unsafe living conditions
Psychological stress: Stems from cognitive or emotional factors like perceived threats and worry
Physiological stress: The body’s response to internal and external stressors that disrupt the status quo

Certain types of stress can sometimes lead to physical effects, including the hearing system. Let’s break down how stress and hearing loss are connected.

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One of the best ways to care for your ears and prevent hearing loss is to get them properly examined by a hearing professional. Find your nearest Miracle-Ear store to get started on your journey to better hearing.

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First: How does hearing work?

Hearing is a complex process with many working parts. At a basic level, hearing is what happens when sound waves travel through the parts of the ear and cause vibrations that your brain interprets. Your hearing system consists of several parts, including:

Outer ear: The visible part of your ear, which includes the ear canal
Middle ear: Your eardrum, plus tiny bones that vibrate with sound waves
Inner ear: Parts of the inner ear including tiny canals, hair cells and a spiral-shaped structure called the cochlea that send signals to your auditory nerve
Auditory nervous system: A system in your brain stem that sends impulses to your temporal lobe, where your brain gives sounds meaning

Stress and hearing loss: Is there a connection?

So, can stress cause hearing loss? Research says yes. A 2022 review of the role of stress in neurodegenerative disease and hearing loss stated that the hormones involved in your body’s stress response may cause an excitatory effect (i.e., too much activity) in the auditory system.¹ The system may be damaged as a result.

Adrenaline, a hormone released during stress, can disrupt blood flow and circulation, and the complex structures in the hearing system may be negatively affected as a result.

In a 2019 study, patients had a relatively high biochemical stress response for one to two months before the onset of sudden hearing loss.² This indicates that stress plays a role in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

How does stress affect your hearing?

Here is a closer look at how stress can affect your hearing ability.

In addition to adrenaline, stress also increases the levels of cortisol in your system. Your inner ear has many cortisol receptors, which are responsible for keeping your hearing system working optimally. However, excess cortisol can lead to hearing loss.³

Can stress cause tinnitus? Yes, the same hormones associated with stress-related hearing loss can also lead to tinnitus, a ringing, buzzing or pulsing sound in the ears when there is no external sound present.⁴

How are stress, tinnitus and hearing loss linked? Learn more here.

Stress doesn’t just affect your hearing structures—it can also affect how you process sound. A 2025 study found that repetitive stress alters sound processing and dampens sound responses (such as loudness perception) in the brain.⁵

Stress, high blood pressure & hearing loss: Causes

High blood pressure (hypertension) is also closely linked to stress-related hearing loss. This is because stress can lead to hypertension that damages the delicate blood vessels in your inner ear. The results may include pressure, pain, a blocked feeling in your ears or hearing loss.

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Conditions linking stress and hearing loss

Other stress-related hearing conditions include:

Meniere’s disease: An inner ear condition that leads to vertigo, dizziness and trouble hearing
Hyperacusis: Increased sensitivity to everyday sounds
Auditory hallucinations: Perceiving sounds when there are none present

If you are experiencing symptoms of any of these hearing disorders, consult a medical professional.

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Can stress cause you to hear voices?

Yes, auditory hallucinations may sometimes take the form of voices, especially if you are emotionally stressed. This phenomenon is typically harmless, but in some cases, it could be a sign of a more serious neurological or hearing disorder. Consult a medical professional if you are concerned about auditory hallucinations.

Can hearing loss from stress be reversed?

Fortunately, stress-induced temporary hearing loss and related conditions are usually reversible and often go away on their own after stress resides. Plus, a healthy lifestyle—regular sleep, hydration, limited caffeine intake, balanced diet, etc.—can help mitigate the effects of stress.³

Stress management techniques

Stress is a normal part of life, even with a healthy lifestyle. Try these stress management techniques to mitigate the effects of stress and promote relaxation and mood regulation.

Meditation is known to reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression, helping you focus, relax, sleep better and improve your mood. Here’s how to meditate:

Find a quiet space and sit in a comfortable position.
Set a five- to 10-minute timer and close your eyes or soften your gaze. You may meditate longer if you need.
Breathe as you normally would, bringing attention to your breathing.
If your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to your breathing.
Open your eyes when you’re ready, slowly bringing your attention away from your breath to close out your meditation.

Similar to meditation, deep breathing can help calm your nervous system and improve your mood and stress levels. Try a few minutes of this simple exercise:

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, letting your breath flow deep into your belly.
Count slowly to five as you inhale.
As you exhale, slowly count to five again.
Repeat.

If you’re feeling stressed, a short workout or brisk walk could help relieve your symptoms. Exercise releases feel-good endorphins (chemicals in your brain) that promote feelings of happiness and reduce pain.

Research also shows that regular physical activity can make you more resilient to (i.e., less sensitive to) stress.⁶

Professional services like talk therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) have also been shown to effectively enhance mental health and manage stress-related disorders.⁷ Talk to your medical provider if you are interested in exploring how therapy could help improve stress-related hearing symptoms.

Prevention is key

Never underestimate the importance of ear care. Your hearing might depend on it.

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When to seek medical help

Stress and hearing loss—whether chronic or temporary—can be overwhelming and difficult to manage, but you do not have to do it alone. Contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms begin to affect your ability to navigate daily life or negatively affect your well-being.

Sources

¹ Martin, Jack L., et al. “An emerging role for stress granules in neurodegenerative disease and hearing loss.” Hearing Research, vol. 426, Dec. 2022, p. 108634, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heares.2022.108634.

² Watanabe, Hiroyuki, et al. “Investigation of Stress Levels before the Onset of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.” The Journal of International Advanced Otology, vol. 15, no. 1, 3 May 2019, pp. 51–55, https://doi.org/10.5152/iao.2019.6197. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

³ Seyede Faranak Emami. “The Effects of Stress on Auditory System: A Narrative Review.” The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology/The Egyptian Journal of Otolaryngology, vol. 40, no. 1, 26 Mar. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s43163-024-00599-0.

⁴ Jayaditya Devpal Patil, et al. “The Association between Stress, Emotional States, and Tinnitus: A Mini-Review.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, vol. 15, 3 May 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1131979.

⁵ Bisharat, Ghattas, et al. “Repeated Stress Gradually Impairs Auditory Processing and Perception.” PLOS Biology, vol. 23, no. 2, 11 Feb. 2025, p. e3003012, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003012.

6 Nowacka-Chmielewska, Marta, et al. “Running from Stress: Neurobiological Mechanisms of Exercise-Induced Stress Resilience.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 23, no. 21, 1 Nov. 2022, p. 13348, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232113348.

7 Nakao, Mutsuhiro, et al. “Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for Management of Mental Health and Stress-Related Disorders: Recent Advances in Techniques and Technologies.” BioPsychoSocial Medicine, vol. 15, no. 1, 3 Oct. 2021, p. 16, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8489050/, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w.