Hearing loss linked to Alzheimer's, heart disease, chronic kidney diseases and diabetes

Jul 2 2012

Ear plug retailer, All Ear Plugs, urges Brits to take more care in protecting their ears following the release of data from the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) in the US linking hearing loss to chronic diseases.

With new BHI studies connecting hearing loss to the onset of Alzheimer's, heart disease, chronic kidney diseases and diabetes, millions of Brits could be at risk from further health complications. After all, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that by 2031, 14.5 million people in the UK will suffer from some form of hearing loss.  

Prevention could not be more important; a message All Ear Plugs has been spreading for over seven years. The leading retailer supports the announcement by BHI Executive Director, Sergei Kochkin PhD in which he states "Hearing loss is far more serious than people realise. When left unaddressed, hearing loss negatively affects virtually every aspect of an individual's life."

Speaking of his concern, Rob Doole, Managing Director of All Ear Plugs, adds:

"With the study also purporting to significantly affect a person's mental wellbeing with links to depression, cognitive decline and anxiety, in addition to chronic life limiting illnesses, it is crucial people take the right precautionary measures.

"What people do not realise is that every day moderate sounds have the ability to damage hearing when a person is repeatedly exposed to them for lengthy periods of time."

The considered level of sound that is safe for people to hear without the use of ear plugs is measured at 85dB. With lawnmowers measuring 90dB and underground stations 88dB, it is relatively easy to see how easy it is for hearing loss to develop. When it comes to determining how hearing loss is measured, many audiologists go by two determining factors; the level of noise and how long you are exposed to it.

According to the ear plugs specialists, for every three decibels over 85dB the time you can be exposed to it without running the risk of temporary or permanent damage is halved. For a sound that is measured at 88dB continuously the permissible exposure time is four hours, but for a measured 91dB noise the time descends down to only two hours of continuous exposure.

For those unsure whether the sounds they frequently come into contact with could be damaging their health, All Ear Plugs' infographic of their website highlights the noise level produced by everyday occurrences.