We've heard for a long time that certain drugs can cause a decrease in hearing, including pain killers and some forms of chemotherapy. A recent German study has now linked alcohol consumption over time to hearing loss. Studies have long shown that alcohol consumption shrinks the brain and does damage to the central auditory cortex. Researchers from the University of Ulm in Germany recently tested both heavy and social drinkers BAEP levels (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials) by testing the level of damage in the part of the brain that enables you to hear. The results indicate that drinking affects the ability to hear.
The alcohol researchers believe that drinking can result in brain damage, while the quantity of alcohol and the length of time needed to accomplish this remain unknown. So even though the ears may still be functioning perfectly, the brain is longer able to process the sounds.
People who suffer from alcoholism may also have damage within their ears. The high levels of alcohol in the bloodstream can create a toxic environment which can damage the delicate hair cells in the cochlea. This condition is known as ototoxicity.
According to a British study, alcohol and noise can cause temporary hearing loss in combination or separately. All of the participants in a study were found to have temporary hearing loss. The researchers also believe that a regular ingestion of alcohol may lead to permanent hearing loss in the long term.
The researchers showed that the more alcohol ingested the worse the hearing was, at least temporarily. In particular, the hearing of low frequency sounds like the ones in speech were most affected.
