What’s the connection between vision and hearing?

Did you know that people who wear glasses are more likely to also have hearing loss?  A research study was done by a group of scientists at the University of Sydney and the National Acoustics Laboratories in Australia.  Their research showed that for each line of the opthalmologists’ eye chart that a volunteer could not see, there was an 18% increase in the likelihood of hearing loss.  Certain types of eye disease can be linked to hearing loss.  Both those suffering age-related macular degeneration and cataracts were more likely to suffer hearing loss than those without these disorders.  Similarly, individuals who had a hearing loss were 1.5 times more likely to have problems with their eyesight.

So I’m just getting old?

Not necessarily.  While it is true that changes in both vision and hearing become more common as we age, those are not the only reasons for a change in your vision or hearing.  Common risk factors can predispose people to both of these sensory impairments. Examples of health issues that can lead to changes in both vision and hearing include stress, cigarette smoking, hardening of the arteries and diabetes.

It’s not bad enough yet, right?

Once a change in vision or hearing has been identified, it is important to pursue treatment as soon as possible–waiting will only cause the problem to get worse over time.  Wearing glasses and using hearing aids can act as somewhat of a rehabilitation process for your ears and your eyes.  Unlike physical therapy for a muscle weakness, hearing aids and glasses are not going to bring back vision or hearing that has already been lost or damaged–what’s done is done.  Wearing the glasses or hearing aids will help you see and hear better, but when you take the devices off, you won’t hear or see as well as you do when you wear them.  It is important to realize,  however, that using glasses and hearing aids to keep your hearing strong can help slow the progression.  Regular hearing testing shows us that hearing aid users tend to have hearing levels that are more stable over time.  Your nerves and your brain must receive adequate stimulation in order to prevent atrophy and future loss.  Glasses and hearing aids help ensure that you will keep hearing and seeing to the best of your abilities for as long as possible.

How often should I get my hearing checked?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a formal hearing test at ages 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 years, but most adults report not having their hearing checked since grade school!  Has your primary care physician ever asked you about your hearing during your annual physical?  The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that adults should have a hearing screening at least every decade through age 50, and then every 3 years after age 50.  A person should have a hearing screening sooner if they have conditions that place them at risk for hearing loss.  In addition to family history of hearing loss, conditions that put someone at risk for a hearing loss include history of noise exposure, history of ear health conditions such as chronic ear infections, and history of other medical concerns such as cancer treatment, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems, cardiac concerns, or smoking.

Ready to set up your baseline hearing test?  Give our office a call at 410-672-1233 to schedule your appointment today!