Obese adolescents are more likely to suffer hearing loss compared to thin adolescents of the same age, according to a new study.
Scientists found that obese adolescents experienced increased hearing loss at all frequencies and were nearly twice as likely to develop the problem.
The study found that obesity in adolescents is associated with sensorineural hearing loss at all frequencies (the frequency range that can be heard by humans). This is caused by damage to the hair cells in the inner ear.
People with low frequency hearing loss cannot hear sounds from frequencies from 2,000 Hz down. In most cases they may still understand human speech well, but may have difficulty hearing in groups or in noisy places.
The survey analyzed data from about 1,500 adolescents from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - a large, nationally representative sample of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19, conducted between 2005 and 2006. Participants were interviewed at home, taking into account family medical history, current medical conditions, medication use, household smokers, socioeconomic and demographic factors and history of noise exposure.
Dr. Lalwani and his colleagues speculate that obesity may directly or indirectly lead to hearing loss. Although further research is needed to determine the mechanisms involved, they theorize that obesity-induced inflammation may contribute to hearing loss.
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