Your body and an ecosystem have some similarities. In nature, all of the fish and birds will be affected if something goes wrong with the pond; and when the birds disappear so too do all of the animals and plants that depend on those birds. The human body, often unbeknownst to us, operates on very similar principles of interconnection. That’s why a wide variety of afflictions can be connected to something which at first seems so isolated like hearing loss.
This is, in a sense, proof of the interdependence of your body and it’s similarity to an ecosystem. Your brain may also be affected if something affects your hearing. We call these circumstances comorbid, a name that is specialized and indicates when two conditions have an affect on each other but don’t always have a cause and effect connection.
The diseases that are comorbid with hearing loss can give us lots of information regarding our bodies’ ecosystems.
Hearing Loss And The Conditions That Are Related to it
So, let’s suppose that you’ve been noticing the symptoms of hearing loss for the last couple of months. You’ve been having a difficult time hearing conversation when you go out to eat. You’ve been turning the volume up on your tv. And some sounds just seem a bit further away. At this point, the majority of people will schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist (this is the practical thing to do, actually).
Your hearing loss is connected to numerous health conditions whether your aware of it or not. Some of the health ailments that have reported comorbidity with hearing loss include:
- Cardiovascular disease: on occasion hearing loss doesn’t have anything to connect it with cardiovascular disease. In other cases, cardiovascular problems can make you more susceptible to hearing loss. The explanation for this is that trauma to the blood vessels of the inner ear is one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Your hearing might suffer as a result of the of that trauma.
- Depression: a whole range of issues can be the result of social isolation because of hearing loss, many of which relate to your mental health. So depression and anxiety, not surprisingly, have been shown in several studies, to have a high rate of comorbidity with hearing loss.
- Diabetes: similarly, your whole nervous system can be influenced in a negative way by diabetes (particularly in your extremities). one of the areas particularly likely to be harmed are the nerves in the ear. Hearing loss can be wholly caused by this damage. But diabetes-related nerve damage can also make you more susceptible to hearing loss caused by other factors, often adding to your symptoms.
- Dementia: neglected hearing loss has been connected to a higher risk of dementia, although the root cause of that relationship is unclear. Research indicates that using a hearing aid can help impede cognitive decline and lower a lot of these dementia risks.
- Vertigo and falls: your inner ear is your main tool for balance. Vertigo and dizziness can be created by some forms of hearing loss because they have a damaging influence on the inner ear. Falls are more and more dangerous as you age and falls can occur whenever someone loses their balance
Is There Anything That Can be Done?
When you add all of those related health conditions on top of each other, it can look a little scary. But it’s worthwhile to remember one thing: tremendous positive impact can be gained by treating your hearing loss. Scientists and researchers understand that if hearing loss is addressed, the chance of dementia dramatically lowers although they don’t really understand precisely why hearing loss and dementia manifest together in the first place.
So no matter what your comorbid condition might be, the best course of action is to have your hearing examined.
Part of an Ecosystem
That’s why more health care specialists are viewing hearing health with new eyes. Your ears are being considered as a part of your total health profile rather than being a targeted and limited issue. In a nutshell, we’re starting to perceive the body more like an interrelated environment. Hearing loss isn’t always an isolated scenario. So it’s relevant to pay attention to your health as a whole.