Latest news with #hearingloss
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
From painkillers to antibiotics: Five medicines that could harm your hearing
LONDON, July 22 — When we think about the side effects of medicines, we might think of nausea, fatigue or dizziness. But there's another, lesser-known risk that can have lasting — and sometimes permanent — consequences: hearing loss. A wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs are known to be ototoxic, meaning they can damage the inner ear and affect hearing or balance. Ototoxicity refers to drug or chemical-related damage to the cochlea, which affects hearing, and the vestibular system, which controls balance. Symptoms can include tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss (often starting with high-frequency sounds), dizziness or balance problems or a sensation of fullness in the ears. These effects can be temporary or permanent, depending on the drug involved, the dose and duration and a person's susceptibility. The inner ear is highly sensitive, and most experts believe ototoxic drugs cause damage by harming the tiny hair cells in the cochlea or disrupting the fluid balance in the inner ear. Once these hair cells are damaged, they don't regenerate — making hearing loss irreversible in many cases. Around 200 medicines are known to have ototoxic effects. Here are some of the most commonly used drugs to watch out for: 1. Antibiotics Aminoglycoside antibiotics like gentamicin, tobramycin and streptomycin are typically prescribed for serious infections such as sepsis, meningitis, or tuberculosis — conditions where prompt, aggressive treatment can be lifesaving. In these cases, the benefits often outweigh the potential risk of hearing loss. These drugs, usually given intravenously, are among the most well-documented ototoxic medications. They can cause irreversible hearing loss, particularly when used in high doses or over extended periods. Some people may also be genetically more vulnerable to these effects. These drugs linger in the inner ear for weeks or even months, meaning damage can continue after treatment has ended. Other antibiotics to be aware of include macrolides (such as erythromycin and azithromycin) and vancomycin, which have also been linked to hearing problems, particularly in older adults or people with kidney issues. 2. Heart medicines Loop diuretics like furosemide and bumetanide are commonly used to manage heart failure or high blood pressure. When given in high doses or intravenously, they can cause temporary hearing loss by disrupting the fluid and electrolyte balance in the inner ear. Around 3 per cent of users may experience ototoxicity. Some blood pressure medications have also been linked to tinnitus. These include ACE inhibitors — drugs like ramipril that help relax blood vessels by blocking a hormone called angiotensin, making it easier for the heart to pump blood — and calcium-channel blockers like amlodipine, which reduce blood pressure by preventing calcium from entering the cells of the heart and blood vessel walls. While these associations have been observed, more research is needed to fully understand the extent of their effect on hearing. 3. Chemotherapy Certain chemotherapy drugs, especially those containing platinum — like cisplatin and carboplatin — are known to be highly ototoxic. Cisplatin, often used to treat testicular, ovarian, breast, head and neck cancers, carries a significant risk of permanent hearing loss. That risk increases when radiation is also directed near the head or neck. Up to 60 per cent of patients treated with cisplatin experience some degree of hearing loss. Researchers are exploring ways to reduce risk by adjusting dosage or frequency without compromising the drug's effectiveness. 4. Painkillers High doses of common pain relievers, including aspirin, NSAIDs — non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen, commonly used to relieve pain, inflammation and fever — and even paracetamol, have been linked to tinnitus and hearing loss. A large study found that women under 60 who regularly took moderate-dose aspirin (325 mg or more, six to seven times per week) had a 16 per cent higher risk of developing tinnitus. This link was not seen with low-dose aspirin (100 mg or less). Frequent use of NSAIDs as well as paracetamol was also associated with a nearly 20 per cent increased risk of tinnitus, particularly in women who used these medications often. Another study linked long-term use of these painkillers to a higher risk of hearing loss, especially in men under 60. In most cases, tinnitus and hearing changes resolve once the medication is stopped — but these side effects typically occur after prolonged, high-dose use. 5. Antimalarial drugs Drugs like chloroquine and quinine — used to treat malaria and leg cramps — can cause reversible hearing loss and tinnitus. One study found that 25-33 per cent of people with hearing loss had previously taken one of these drugs. Hydroxychloroquine, used to treat lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, has a similar chemical structure and poses a similar risk. While some people recover after stopping the drug, others may experience permanent damage, particularly after long-term or high-dose use. People with pre-existing hearing loss, kidney disease, or genetic susceptibility face higher risks — as do those taking multiple ototoxic drugs at once. Children and older adults may also be more vulnerable. If you're prescribed one of these medications for a serious condition like cancer, sepsis or tuberculosis, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. But it's still wise to be informed. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if your medicine carries a risk to hearing or balance. If you experience ringing in your ears, dizziness, or muffled hearing, report it promptly. — Reuters
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
There's a painful echo in my left ear which affects my hearing – what can I do?
OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice. Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who is worried as their hearing is being affected by a painful echo. 2 I HAVE got a problem with my left ear. Most days, it's like an echo and it's a little bit painful. I have to keep rubbing it throughout the day. My hearing is affected by this. Is there anything I can buy for it? A sensation of echo, pain and hearing reduction in one ear could have a number of causes. The first thing that springs to mind is earwax build-up. Excessive or impacted wax can create a physical barrier within the ear canal, blocking sound waves from reaching the eardrum. This blockage can cause an echoing, pain and hearing loss. Earwax softening drops, such as olive oil drops, gently lubricate and break down the wax, helping the body to push it out easier. Never use cotton buds inside your ear because they push the earwax further in. Eustachian tube dysfunction – which is when the tube connecting the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat becomes blocked or inflamed – can be triggered by a cold or allergies. If you suspect allergies, you could try a steroid nasal spray. From 'sagging' lobes to 'hearing food' and different shades of earwax - 12 eerie facts about your ears - Dr Philippa Kaye, GP and author More severe pain, discharge or fever could be an infection. And we always have to consider rare but more serious causes if symptoms persist. See a nurse or doctor if symptoms have lasted more than a week despite over-the-counter treatment, your hearing loss is significant or getting worse, or if you experience ear discharge, fever or severe pain.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Two key factors of dementia risk that outweigh all others
Tackling hearing loss early and making an effort to maintain social relationships could delay the development of dementia later in life, promising new research has found. Studies have long suggested that around four in ten cases of the memory-robbing condition could be preventable. Addressing vision loss, treating depression and doing plenty of exercise are all ways of reducing the risk. Now Swiss scientists, who tracked more than 30,000 adults, have revealed a significant link between hearing loss, loneliness and memory decline. Writing in the journal Communications Psychology, scientists at the University of Geneva said: 'Addressing hearing impairment alongside loneliness—even in socially integrated individuals—may be crucial for promoting cognitive health in later life. With increasing longevity, understanding the relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive functioning is of utmost importance for ageing societies.' In the study, the researchers analysed 33,741 adults aged 50 and over enrolled in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Over a 17 year period they found that older adults who said they felt lonely—even if they were not socially isolated—showed steeper cognitive decline as their hearing deteriorated compared to socially integrated individuals. Participants who were both isolated and lonely consistently performed worse across all cognitive tasks including immediate and delayed recall and verbal fluency. According to the researchers, this could be because memory processes like retrieving information are used more by people who interact with others on a regular basis. Additionally, researchers found that lonely individuals found hearing loss more distressing than their non-lonely peers, highlighting the psychological burden of the condition which could contribute to memory loss. The researchers concluded that their findings support the theory that both objective and subjective social isolation are relevant to dementia risk. 'Our design uncovered a significant role for loneliness in shaping the extent to which sensory decline is linked to cognition,' the researchers added. However, the researchers acknowledged that causality could not be inferred. They added: 'Our findings indicate that both hearing impairment and psychosocial factors such as loneliness and social isolation may be relevant to cognitive functioning in later life. This underscores the importance of a holistic approach that combines auditory health with psychosocial support to maintain cognitive health in later life.' In response to studies such as this, experts at Alzheimer's Research UK are now calling on the government to include a hearing check in the NHS Health Check for over-40s. Dr Isolde Radford, from the charity, said: 'We don't yet know if hearing loss directly causes dementia or whether it causes other conditions that, in turn increase our risk. What we do know is that hearing loss, like dementia, isn't an inevitable part of ageing. This simple step could help millions identify hearing loss earlier and take appropriate action, such as wearing hearing aids, that may help reduce their risk of dementia.' It comes as a landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors. To reduce dementia risk throughout life, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and governments. These include making hearing aids available for all those who need it, reducing harmful noise exposure, and increased detection and treatment access for high cholesterol among the over-40s. Experts claimed the study, published in medical journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and affects 982,000 people in the UK. It is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly. Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop. Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time. Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Scientists pinpoint two key factors which increase dementia risk more than any other - one is frighteningly difficult to avoid
Tackling hearing loss early and making an effort to maintain social relationships could delay the development of dementia later in life, promising new research has found. Studies have long suggested that around four in ten cases of the memory-robbing condition could be preventable. Addressing vision loss, treating depression and doing plenty of exercise are all ways of reducing the risk. Now Swiss scientists, who tracked more than 30,000 adults, have revealed a significant link between hearing loss, loneliness and memory decline. Writing in the journal Communications Psychology, scientists at the University of Geneva said: 'Addressing hearing impairment alongside loneliness—even in socially integrated individuals—may be crucial for promoting cognitive health in later life. 'With increasing longevity, understanding the relationship between hearing impairment and cognitive functioning is of utmost importance for ageing societies.' In the study, the researchers analysed 33,741 adults aged 50 and over enrolled in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Over a 17 year period they found that older adults who said they felt lonely—even if they were not socially isolated—showed steeper cognitive decline as their hearing deteriorated compared to socially integrated individuals. Participants who were both isolated and lonely consistently performed worse across all cognitive tasks including immediate and delayed recall and verbal fluency. According to the researchers, this could be because memory processes like retrieving information are used more by people who interact with others on a regular basis. Additionally, researchers found that lonely individuals found hearing loss more distressing than their non-lonely peers, highlighting the psychological burden of the condition which could contribute to memory loss. The researchers concluded that their findings support the theory that both objective and subjective social isolation are relevant to dementia risk. 'Our design uncovered a significant role for loneliness in shaping the extent to which sensory decline is linked to cognition,' the researchers added. However, the researchers acknowledged that causality could not be inferred. They added: 'Our findings indicate that both hearing impairment and psychosocial factors such as loneliness and social isolation may be relevant to cognitive functioning in later life. 'This underscores the importance of a holistic approach that combines auditory health with psychosocial support to maintain cognitive health in later life.' In response to studies such as this, experts at Alzheimer's Research UK are now calling on the government to include a hearing check in the NHS Health Check for over-40s. Dr Isolde Radford, from the charity, said: 'We don't yet know if hearing loss directly causes dementia or whether it causes other conditions that, in turn increase our risk. 'What we do know is that hearing loss, like dementia, isn't an inevitable part of ageing. 'This simple step could help millions identify hearing loss earlier and take appropriate action, such as wearing hearing aids, that may help reduce their risk of dementia.' It comes as a landmark study last year also suggested almost half of all Alzheimer's cases could be prevented by tackling 14 lifestyle factors. To reduce dementia risk throughout life, the commission also made 13 recommendations for both people and governments. These include making hearing aids available for all those who need it, reducing harmful noise exposure, and increased detection and treatment access for high cholesterol among the over-40s. Experts claimed the study, published in medical journal The Lancet, provided more hope than 'ever before' that the memory-robbing disorder that blights the lives of millions can be prevented. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia and affects 982,000 people in the UK. It is thought to be caused by a build-up of amyloid and tau in the brain, which clump together and from plaques and tangles that make it harder for the brain to work properly. Eventually, the brain struggles to cope with this damage and dementia symptoms develop. Memory problems, thinking and reasoning difficulties and language problems are common early symptoms of the condition, which then worsen over time. Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer.
Medical News Today
17-07-2025
- Health
- Medical News Today
Does Medicare cover cochlear implants?
Medicare can cover cochlear implants for those who meet the eligibility costs may vary depending on whether the procedure is inpatient or eligibility for cochlear implantsFor Medicare to pay for cochlear implants, a person must have:a diagnosis of bilateral moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing impairment with limited benefit from standard hearing aidsthe ability to understand and participate in training and rehab after surgeryan accessible cochlear lumen, which is the fluid-filled area in the inner ear, that's suitable for implantationAlso, a person must not have:a middle ear infectiondamaged areas in the auditory nerve and sound areas of the central nervous systemother conditions that could prevent a safe surgeryWhat is the cochlear implant 60-60 rule?The 60-60 rule refers to specific standards a person must meet to qualify for cochlear first 60 refers to the pure-tone average (PTA). A healthcare professional can check whether someone's ear with less hearing loss has a PTA of 60 decibels of hearing level or second 60 refers to word recognition. On a hearing test, a person must have a word recognition score of 60% or someone meets these standards, they can qualify for cochlear implant costs with MedicareAccording to Medicare's 2025 national average data, the average cost of cochlear implantation surgery in a hospital outpatient department is $939. This cost includes doctors' fees and facility implantation procedures occur in ambulatory surgical centers, which are outpatient facilities. They have an average cost of $ both instances, Medicare Part B may typically cover the costs can include premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. The standard 2025 monthly Part B premium is $185, and the deductible is $257. Once a person pays their deductible, they must typically pay a 20% a person experiences a hospital admittance, Medicare Part A may cover the costs of cochlear implants. Part A costs include a 2025 deductible of $1,676. After paying this, the first 60 days in the hospital are not subject to any other out-of-pocket expenses.
