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Those who have hearing loss are more likely to have many other physical, mental, and social issues. Yet, it is not as simple as to say that hearing loss is causing all of these problems. Quite possibly, some physical issues are contributing to hearing loss instead. How can we tell these two relationships apart? In some cases, it seems clear. Hearing loss can make it so difficult to communicate that some people avoid conversations with others as much as possible. That social isolation can cause anxiety and depression. In other cases, the connection seems to work the other way. Those who have hypertension or cardiovascular disease have less oxygen in their bloodstreams. That lack of oxygenated blood can cause harm to the tiny hair cells of the inner ear, leading to hearing loss. How about diabetes? What is the relationship linking these two conditions? First, we need to understand the statistical nature of their connection. Then, we will be able to consider the mechanisms that explain the relationship.
Diabetes and Hearing Loss
The facts demonstrate a strong connection between hearing loss and diabetes. In 2008 a Canadian study demonstrated that those with high blood sugar levels are 30 percent more likely to have hearing loss than their counterparts with normal blood sugar levels. That group includes those who have a full diagnosis of diabetes as well as those with prediabetes. Although this statistic has been borne out in other studies to confirm the results, there is less consensus about how the two conditions are connected.
Network Mechanisms
Several possibilities can explain this connection. The first, most direct explanation would assert that higher glucose levels in the bloodstream lead to lower oxygen levels in the blood. With less oxygen to support the functioning of the tiny hair cells of the inner ear, they can become damaged beyond repair. Indeed, many specialists think that the connection between diabetes and hearing loss works in this direct manner. Others look beyond the features of the ear and consider the auditory nervous pathway that connects the ear and the brain. This system allows electrical impulses to move from the cochlea of the ear to the brain where they can be received, processed, categorized, and understood. Diabetes has been shown to have an impact on nerve pathways throughout the body, and the auditory nervous system would be no exception. By making it more difficult to send nervous system information to the brain, the ears might be in fine working order. Yet, without the ability to transmit electricity effectively to the brain, their messages might be falling flat. A final explanation sees the body as a complex network of causal mechanisms that all affect one another. For instance, diabetes might be causing a domino rally of effects within the body that eventually lands on the ears and auditory nervous system. If, for instance, high glucose levels made the body produce more fatty tissues, then the heart might have more difficulty transporting oxygen through the blood vessels. That struggle to supply oxygenated blood might look like it is the fault of the cardiovascular system, but diabetes might be an underlying condition making the process more difficult on higher levels, including delivery of oxygen to the ears.
Holistic Health
A plan for holistic health includes not only management of glucose levels but also getting treatment for hearing loss. Prioritizing some health concerns above others is a prudent decision for those who have serious or life-threatening conditions. Yet, the body is such a complex network of interrelationships that one organ or system can’t be isolated from the rest. Thinking about the body as a holistic organism helps us see the connections between mental and physical health, as well. Many physical conditions are caused by stress, and stress tends to be a black box of mental strain for those who are devoted to physical health alone.
By unpacking the causes of mental stress, including untreated hearing loss, we can better understand what might be underlying physical health issues, as well. If your untreated hearing loss is causing you mental stress, it might be related to other negative outcomes in the body, as well. The time is now to get the help you need for the benefit of your whole body and mind.