Analgesics contribute to hearing loss, study finds

Perhaps it wasn't those years of listening to rock 'n' roll that damaged my hearing after all. New research suggests that regular use of aspirin, acetaminophen and other analgesics can substantially increase the risk of hearing loss, especially in men younger than 50. Researchers report in the American Journal of Medicine that use of acetaminophen more than twice a week by such men doubles the risk of hearing loss, use of ibuprofen and related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases the risk by nearly two-thirds, and regular use of aspirin increases it by about a third.

Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the United States,afflicting more than 36 million people. It is prevalent in the elderly, but about a third of those ages 40 to 49 already suffer some hearing loss. Common risk factors include loud noises, alcohol, hypertension, diabetes and the use of the diuretic furosemide.Studies in animals and anecdotal reports in humans indicate high doses of the analgesics can interfere with hearing, but there have been few studies looking at regular use and none studying acetaminophen (one brand name is Tylenol), according to the authors.

Dr. Sharon G. Curhan of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and her colleagues studied 26,917 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Their ages ranged from 40 to 75 at enrollment in 1986. Every two years, the men filled out questionnaires about their use of various drugs, as well as other lifestyle factors. They were also asked if hearing loss had been professionally documented.  During 369,079 person-years (a statistical measurement that represents one person at risk of disease for one year) of follow-up, the team identified 3,488 new cases of hearing loss.

Controlling for a variety of other risk factors, the researchers found that among all men who used aspirin at least twice a week, there was a 12% increased risk of hearing loss. Among those who used ibuprofen and related analgesics, there was a 21% increase; for those who used acetaminophen, a 22% risk. But the risk was much higher when they considered only men younger than 50. In that group, there was a 33%  increased risk for aspirin use, a 61% increase for ibuprofen and related NSAIDs, and a 99% increase for acetaminophen.

The researchers cautioned that the study group involved only men and that most of them were Caucasian. It is not clear how the results might extrapolate to women and other racial groups.

-- Thomas H. Maugh II

Photo: Tylenol capsules. Regular use of acetaminophen (a well-known brand is Tylenol) can double the risk of hearing loss in men under 50. Credit: Brendan Smialowski / Getty Images

Comments

[observer]

THAT SUCKS!!!!
On one hand can not hear good music as well, then on the other he does not have to hear his significant other.
Hmmmm...

[KenJr]

The information provided here seems rather incomplete. Here's an example: There's no mention of dose in the article. For instance, a good many doctors recommend taking one baby aspirin daily to prevent against potential heart problems. Those of us following this regime would wonder how this daily baby aspirin recommendation would fit in with this study (I've been taking them for nigh on 20 years). It would seem that there are enough people who follow this regime to make up a separate sub-category in these hearing effect studies.

[THM]

The researchers did not address the issue of dosage.

[Katie T]

One must remember that for scientific studies such as this one, this research indicates there is an ASSOCIATION between Tylenol usage and hearing loss. This is not direct cause-and-effect. It could be that men who have underlying systemic pain might have some sort of chronic inflammation that results in hearing loss. We do not know the whole biological story.

[Chicka]

I guarantee you as someone under 40 that the reason I'm losing my hearing is not aspirin, but my ipod, even at only half-volume.

I also don't see how you can launch a survey in 1986, with 40-70 year old people, and then say that studying those under 50 showed higher loss, when the number of 40-49 year old participants would "vanish" within 10 years of the survey start. At the close of the survey (assuming 2006), the youngest would have been 60. They would have had to lose hearing fairly early in the survey, which implies something genetic/work related, not aspirin intake.

[DJRobSD]

For the most part, this study is meaningless. They really need to study how much volume has increased in concert halls, night clubs, movie theaters, and of course the long term affects of ipod usage, and what volume levels are safe. I've been going to nightclubs for 10 years now, and I can tell you that volumes of the sound system have significantly increased to the point where I almost can not go out any more because it hurts my ears after only 30 minutes of exposure. The DJ's, managers, club owners, etc don't seem to have any concern.

That is the real reason why people are loosing their hearing at such a young age, too much volume for extended periods of time!!!

[blah, blah]

I'm 40 years old and was diagnosed with substantial hearing loss about 5 years ago. I can tell you that I was not a big fan of iPods, but i did take tylenol about 3- or 4 times a week to releive sore muscles from long bike rides. The hearing loss was sudden (I went to sleep fine and woke up not being able to hear w/o being right next to someone) and I would caution anybody to please protect your hearing becuase once it's gone your social/professional/personal life changes dramatically.

[Charlie]

Wow. Scary to hear but as a musician who quite often will take ibuprofen for muscle aches it's good to know.

Charlie
www.intuneaudio.ca