Nearly 1 in 6 people have some degree of hearing loss. The third most common medical condition people live with today, hearing loss can have significant effects on everyday life. This includes straining communication, relationships, social life, and increasing health risks. Identifying and treating factors that increase the risk of developing hearing loss is an important preventative strategy. Extensive research shows that a number of medical conditions are linked to hearing loss. This includes osteoporosis – studies have shown that  people with osteoporosis can be twice as likely to experience hearing loss. This highlights that if you have osteoporosis, it is important to prioritize and protect your hearing health.

What is Osteoporosis?

Bones consist of living tissue that is always being regenerated with new bone tissue. Osteoporosis is a condition that involves a slowing down of this process which means that new bone tissue develops at a reduced rate. This produces lower bone mass, resulting in weakened bones which makes them increasingly vulnerable to breakage. Weakened bones make them more vulnerable to fractures, the most common being in the wrists, hip, and spine.

The International Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 44 million people experience osteoporosis or low bone mass. People can have osteoporosis without necessarily knowing it. It is common to become aware of osteoporosis or low bone mass after experiencing a fracture or breakage. This condition can take a toll on mobility as well as lead to chronic pain. Osteoporosis can slo increase the risk of developing hearing loss which is a permanent medical condition that reduces capacity to hear and process sound.

Link Between Hearing Loss & Osteoporosis

Research highlights a correlation between hearing loss and osteoporosis. Studies show that osteoporosis can increase the risk of developing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). This type of hearing loss occurs rapidly – either all at once or over a few days. SSHL typically occurs in one ear as a result of damaged sensory cells in the inner ear. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 50% of people who experience this type of hearing loss will recover some or most of their hearing spontaneously.

A major study that investigates the relationship between osteoporosis and SSHL was published in the The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Researchers at the Chi Mei Medical Center in Taiwan gathered and evaluated data on people with and without osteoporosis. This included data on 10,660 people with diagnosed osteoporosis and 31,980 people without osteoporosis. Researchers found that:

• People with osteoporosis were 76% more likely to develop sudden sensorineural hearing loss compared to people without osteoporosis.
• Women with osteoporosis were 87% more likely to develop SSHL compared to men.

These findings show that people with osteoporosis were much more likely to experience hearing loss. This data supports further research that identifies osteoporosis as a risk factor for hearing loss. Experts suggest that osteoporosis can damage the bones in the middle ear (known as the ossicles). These bones play an integral role in how sound is absorbed by propelling soundwaves further into the ear where they are processed. Osteoporosis can disrupt this, preventing soundwaves from reaching the inner ear, contributing to hearing loss.  

Protecting Your Hearing Health

If you have osteoporosis or low bone mass, it is important to practice safety measures that help protect your hearing health. This includes:  

• Get hearing tested regularly: be sure to integrate a hearing test in annual health check-ins. Hearing tests involve a painless process that measures hearing capacities in both ears. This allows you to monitor your hearing health and catch any changes you may experience early. Early intervention can prevent hearing loss from worsening and can protect the hearing that you do have.
• Priotizie Bone Health: if you have osteoporosis or lower bone mass, it is important to take care of the health of your bones! There are several ways you can do this including: increasing physical activity – walking, biking, swimming, golfing etc. and eating healthful diets that are rich in vitamin D and calcium which benefits the bones.

Also, be sure to discuss strategies for bone health and management with your healthcare provider. For more information on how you can protect your hearing health and to schedule a hearing test, contact us today.