Australian researchers have highlighted the importance of safeguarding our hearing, with an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide experiencing hearing loss, despite longer life expectancies.
Macquarie University’s research has drawn attention to the increasing connection between noise exposure and hearing loss, amidst rising noise pollution from various sources like city streets, loud workplaces, and environments with high noise levels such as explosions and gunfire, and ongoing sounds of heavy machinery or power tools.
They advocate preventive measures such as using ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones, reducing the volume on personal audio devices, and seeking regular hearing assessments.
This push coincides with the World Health Organization’s report that over 80 percent of global ear and hearing care needs remain unmet, partly due to societal misperceptions and stigma surrounding hearing loss.
One of the earliest and most common indicators of hearing loss is tinnitus, a condition characterized by hearing noises that are not caused by an external source.
Often described as a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears, tinnitus can significantly impact the quality of life. While it is primarily associated with hearing loss, it can also stem from high-stress levels or physical and emotional trauma.
The management of tinnitus involves a comprehensive approach, including sound therapy, lifestyle modifications, and cognitive behavioral therapy, to help patients manage their symptoms more effectively.
However, Dr. Matthieu Recugnat from Macquarie University explains that tinnitus is more complex because of people’s different perceptions and experiences.
“Researchers are looking for a tinnitus cure but the “pill that will make it disappear” doesn’t exist,” he said.
In general, hearing loss is not a singular condition but a spectrum of disorders affecting millions globally.
According to information provided by Johns Hopkins School Of Medicine, there are three primary types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss.
Conductive hearing loss occurs when sounds struggle to travel efficiently through the ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones of the middle ear.
Sensorineural hearing loss, the most common form, arises from problems in the inner ear or the auditory nerve, often due to damage to the hair cells in the cochlea.
‘Medical Treatments May Pose Risks to Hearing Health,’ Experts Warn
While cochlear implant technology stands as the most effective active prosthesis in healthcare, there are still measures individuals of all ages can take to preserve their hearing. Dr. Recugnat advises people to be more mindful of their hearing.“Hearing cells are very fragile and the cells in your ears—cochlea—are one of the cells in the body that don’t regenerate once you’ve lost them. You can’t make them grow back, you need to be careful about those,” he said.
An analysis of 72 studies by Bamini Gopinath, the head of Macquarie’s Hearing Research Team, revealed that medical-related risk factors were responsible for the highest rate of hearing loss.
More than 55 percent of individuals undergoing cancer treatment, including combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy, developed hearing loss.
“It’s not well understood what it is about radiotherapy that can result in hearing loss, but it may be that radiation damages the sensitive components of the ear,” Professor Gopinath said.
Additionally, approximately half of those prescribed potent antibiotics for diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia experienced hearing loss, according to the study.
Professor Gopinath emphasizes the necessity of developing less harmful medications.
“When treating infections, clinicians should always consider less-toxic alternatives if available,” she said.
