Elsevier LogoHearing loss is claimed to be the most general sensory disorder in the US. It appears to affect more than 36 million people. Not only is hearing loss extremely common among the elderly, but roughly one third of those aged 40-49 years seem to have hearing loss. Even mild hearing loss may compromise the capability to comprehend speech in the attendance of background noise or numerous speakers, thereby resulting in social isolation, depression, and poorer standard of life.

According to a study, routine administering of aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) appears to augment the threat of hearing loss in men, predominantly in younger men, below age 60.

Examiners from Harvard University, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Vanderbilt University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston observed issues other than age and noise that may affect the threat of hearing lose. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are alleged to be the 3 most generally used drugs in the US. The ototoxic consequences of aspirin are apparently recognized and the ototoxicity of NSAIDs has been proposed, but the association between acetaminophen and hearing loss has not been investigated formerly. The affiliation between these drugs and hearing loss appears to be a vital public health issue.

Sharon G. Curhan, MD, ScM, Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues, commented, “Regular use of analgesics, specifically aspirin, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen, might increase the risk of adult hearing loss, particularly in younger individuals. Given the high prevalence of regular analgesic use and health and social implications of hearing impairment, this represents an important public health issue.”

The subjects were taken from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, which followed more than 26,000 men every 2 years for 18 years. A survey appeared to find out analgesic use, hearing loss and several physiological, medical and demographic aspects.

It was seen that for aspirin, usual users under 50 and those aged 50-59 years appeared to have 33% more chances to suffer from hearing loss as opposed to nonregular users, but there seems to be no link among men aged 60 years and more. For NSAIDs, habitual users aged under 50 were apparently 61% more expected, those aged 50-59 were 32% more liable, and those aged 60 and older were 16% more prone to suffer from hearing loss as compared to nonregular users of NSAIDs.

For acetaminophen, recurrent users aged under 50 seemed to have 99% more chances, regular users aged 50-59 appeared to encompass 38% more possibilities and those aged 60 and older supposedly had 16% more likelihood to have hearing loss as against nonregular users of acetaminophen.

The study was published in the American Journal of Medicine.