It has recently been found that the number of smokers in the UK has fallen to its lowest ever level. Just one in six adults now smoke.
At the Hearing Centre, like many, we welcome the news with open arms. There are many proven health problems caused by smoking and fewer smokers also lowers the chance of being subject to passive smoking.
There are more publicly known effects of smoking, but its consequences on hearing have not been widely documented.
Smoking and hearing loss research
Research by the University of Manchester unveiled results that smokers are 15 per cent more likely to suffer from hearing loss later in their lives. The study looked at almost 165,000 adults’ hearing with a mixture of smokers and non-smokers.
Passive smoking also increased the likelihood of hearing loss by 28 per cent. The increased risk among passive smokers could be due to smokers being compared to both complete non-smokers and passive non-smokers but passive smokers were compared only to non-smokers.
“Given that around 20 per cent of the UK population smoke and up to 60 per cent in some countries, smoking may represent a significant cause of hearing loss worldwide,” comments Dr Piers Dawes, from the Centre for Human Communication and Deafness at The University of Manchester. “We found the more packets you smoke per week and the longer you smoke, the greater the risk you will damage your hearing.”
More than 11 million people are affected by hearing loss in the UK alone. Giving up smoking and protection are practical steps in preventing hearing loss.
The Hearing Centre is a specialist centre dedicated to solving hearing problems in Leicester. Our centre provides a full spectrum of hearing services including; hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, wax removal, tinnitus treatments, noise protection, and swimming protection.
To book your hearing test click here or call us today on 0116 254 3909.
