16-03-2017
Hearing loss is a problem affecting the sensory organs, iron deficiency anaemia, on the other hand, is a haematological disorder. In theory, it is difficult to find a common denominator between the two conditions, but it appears that there may in fact be a significant link between them. The link between anaemia and hearing loss has been reported by researchers at the State University College of Medicine in Pennsylvania.
Hearing loss of varying degrees in the elderly is not uncommon - for patients over 85 years of age, hearing impairment is found in up to eight out of 10 of them. To the normal-hearing person, hearing loss may seem like a minor problem, but the truth is quite the opposite.
People with hearing loss face many problems, one of the main difficulties being communicating with other people. Because hearing problems can simply have a negative impact on a patient's quality of life, and because their pathogenesis is not well enough understood, doctors are still investigating possible causes of hearing disorders. New reports as to the factors involved in the onset of hearing loss were presented in the journal JMAA Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery by researchers from Pennsylvania.
Association between iron deficiency anaemia and hearing impairment
The scientists analysed data on more than 300,000 people aged between 21 and 90 years. The analyses used determinations of the patients' ferritin and haemoglobin levels (one of the parameters used to diagnose iron deficiency anaemia), as well as information on the presence of hearing impairment in the subjects.
Ultimately, it was found that there was indeed a link between certain types of hearing loss and iron deficiency anaemia. How anaemia increases the risk of hearing loss has not yet been established. One potential mechanism for such a relationship is considered to be the reduction of oxygen in the body due to anaemia. The structures of the inner ear are extremely sensitive to oxygen deficiency and could therefore be damaged if anaemia exists - due to hypoxia.
The discovery of these relationships necessitates additional research. It is possible that treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia (which is relatively easy, as it is based on supplementation with this mineral) could prevent hearing loss. Research is also needed to assess whether the administration of iron supplements to hearing-impaired patients could lead to a reduction in the severity of their existing problems.
