Smoking and Hearing Loss
Those who smoke tobacco have a 170% greater chance of developing hearing loss versus nonsmokers.
To what extent is smoking a threat to hearing?
Smoking, the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. and Canada, is also a risk factor for hearing loss. Both those who smoke and those exposed to secondhand smoke — including in utero — may have higher odds of developing hearing loss. In addition, smoking may compound the risk of noise-related hearing loss for those who experience excessively loud sounds at work.
Is vaping also an issue?
Like traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or vaping devices may contain chemicals, such as nicotine, that can damage the ear or affect other processes that contribute to hearing. Some e-cigarette users have reported symptoms such as ear occlusion, ear pressure, tinnitus, difficulty hearing in noise, and loss of low and high hearing frequencies.
Why refer to a hearing care professional?
Our highly trained team can evaluate, diagnose, and develop a personalized treatment plan to address all levels of hearing loss. With an equally deep commitment to hearing loss prevention, we’re able to educate patients on ear-positive practices that help protect and preserve their hearing health, a crucial part of total wellness.
8 signs your patient may need a hearing evaluation
- History of smoking or other tobacco use
- Exposure to occupational noise
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Perception that people are mumbling
- Complaints from others about TV volume
- Trouble hearing in loud environments
- Problems tracking phone conversations
- Difficulty understanding speech
Fast facts about smoking and hearing loss:
No levels of tobacco exposure are safe for human health.
Noise exposure in some cases may mask smoking’s role in hearing loss.
Smoking cessation might quickly reduce the elevated risk of hearing loss.
Risk of hearing loss may double for nonsmokers living with someone who smokes.
Reduced hearing and speech-in-noise perception may occur with persistent smoking.
JAMA Network. Cigarette Smoking and Hearing Loss: The Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study. JAMA. Science Direct. Effect of Smoking on Hearing Loss: Quality Assessment and Meta-Analysis. Preventive Medicine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. National Library of Medicine. Mortality Attributable to Tobacco Use in Canada and Its Regions, 1998. Canadian Journal of Public Health. National Library of Medicine. Maternal Prenatal Smoking and Hearing Loss
Among Adolescents. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. AudiologyOnline. Effects of Smoking on the Auditory System. Healthy Hearing. Vaping and Hearing Loss: Is There a Link? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Facts on
E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults. The Hearing Review. Can E-Cigarettes Cause Hearing Loss? National Library of Medicine. Effect of Electronic Cigarettes on Human Middle Ear. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. World
Health Organization. Tobacco. Oxford Academic. Smoking, Smoking Cessation, and the Risk of Hearing Loss: Japan Epidemiology Collaboration on Occupational Health Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. JAMA Network. Association of Cigarette Smoking
Patterns Over 30 Years With Audiometric Hearing Impairment and Speech-in-Noise Perception: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Access information available on request.