Hearing Blog

Hearing loss brings with it a host of other health issues. Recent research has found a connection between loss of hearing and migraine headaches. Migraines tend to be excruciatingly painful headaches, accompanied by nausea, vision problems, and sensitivity to sounds as well as light.

The headaches caused by migraine can last anywhere between a couple of hours to numerous days. Researchers have recently reported the surprising connection that suggests that people who have migraines tend to have a significantly higher likelihood of having hearing loss.

Migraine headaches can interfere with sufficient blood flow to the ears. This is why migraine attacks can result in hearing damage due to the damage caused to the delicate hair follicles within the inner ear as a result of lack of oxygenated blood. Sudden hearing loss can occur as a result, which is also known as sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL is the specific type of hearing loss that affects those with migraines twice as much as those with no migraines.

SNHL is a type of hearing loss that occurs in either a single ear or both and is generally sudden in its onset and is generally unexplained by extraneous factors. It usually results from a direct exposure to excessively loud noise, or in the case of those with migraine, insufficient blood supply to the ears. This particular condition is considered a medical emergency, thus if you feel that you or someone you know has SNHL, please ask them to contact a hearing care professional immediately.

Migraines are unpleasant enough as it is, without the added complication of having hearing loss as a result of them. This is why it is important to treat your migraine headaches and maintain a written log of the specific symptoms you undergo during the attacks.

You can also write down the intensity as well as the frequency of your migraine headaches and follow medical advice to address your condition. Most importantly, make sure you get your hearing tested annually if you suffer from migraine.