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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOne likely cause of the concurrence of hearing loss <\/a>and arthritis is the pain medication people with arthritis take. Researchers hypothesize that aspirin and acetaminophen people with arthritis take to manage the pain may reduce blood flow to the cochlea<\/a> resulting in permanent damage to the inner ear. Acetaminophen may also deplete the cochlea\u2019s glutathione, a protein that helps protect the cochlea from damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember to consult your provider before taking large quantities of aspirin and acetaminophen to manage arthritic pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a condition in which the immune system attacks joints, beginning with the joint lining<\/a>. It causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness, which worsens with age. With arthritis, activities such as typing or playing pickleball at Bishop Park may feel painful or difficult. Hearing loss from arthritis is believed to be related to the same immune system response.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n With arthritis-induced hearing loss, the immune system targets the tissues of the inner ear and causes damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing loss co-occurring with rheumatoid arthritis is fairly common. A study comparing 35 patients with RA with 35 patients without found that sensorineural hearing loss (hearing loss of the inner ear) appeared in 60% of the RA group and only 34.29% of the control group<\/a>. They also tested for conductive hearing loss (a condition where sound cannot transmit through the outer and middle ear) and found that though it was seen in several participants with RA, it was much less common.<\/p>\n\n\n\nArthritis-Induced Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Can You Do About the Link?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n