For some people, a migraine begins with mental and physical symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, a desire for sweet foods, thirst, a stiff neck, and so on. Others report that it starts with a visual aura or nausea. Then there’s the infamous headache discomfort and hammering sensation. If you suffer from migraines, you’re undoubtedly aware of the stages of a migraine, but did you realize that migraines and hearing loss are linked?
Is it possible for headaches to cause hearing loss?
The link between migraines and hearing loss may not be immediately apparent. Migraines, tinnitus, and hearing loss have all been linked in research. In a study published last year, researchers from the University of California’s Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery investigated the link between headaches and hearing loss.
They based their findings on information from 12,962 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Hearing loss and tinnitus were more common in migraine sufferers than in non-migraine sufferers.
According to the findings, migraine sufferers are 1.5 times more likely to get hearing loss and 2.2 times more likely to develop tinnitus.
Migraines can also cause a sudden loss of hearing. This form of hearing loss occurs in waves. It may be transient at times, but it can also be permanent. Adults who suffer from headaches regularly are twice as likely to experience unexpected hearing loss.
Interconnected conditions
The link between migraines, tinnitus, and hearing loss is bidirectional. Migraine sufferers are more likely to have tinnitus or hearing loss, while migraine sufferers are more likely to have hearing loss or tinnitus.
According to Dr. Djalilian, one of the study’s authors, his team theorized an underlying mechanism that linked migraines to ear disorders like hearing loss and tinnitus. This was dubbed otologic migraines, which refer to migraines that impact the ear.
Migraine Treatment
The fact that treating otologic migraines and reducing migraine pain can sometimes lessen the symptoms of tinnitus and hearing loss is intriguing. Migraine drugs can help with tinnitus and can even help with unexpected hearing loss.
Migraines can be reduced by making lifestyle adjustments such as lowering stress, adopting relaxation techniques, and sticking to a regular sleeping schedule. The majority of migraine treatment focuses on controlling pain during the migraine and preventing future migraines. Preventative drugs can be taken daily to avoid migraines, while pain-relieving medications can be administered during migraines.
Why is it necessary to treat hearing loss and tinnitus?
Dr. Djalilian thinks this study will motivate more doctors to delve further into migraine symptoms and inquire about hearing loss and tinnitus in their patients. Doctors might send their patients to an audiologist for hearing loss and tinnitus treatment in addition to treating migraines. Reducing these symptoms can also lower your chances of getting a migraine.
Are you a good candidate for hearing aids?
Tinnitus can be treated using a variety of approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, tinnitus retraining therapy, medicines, and noise-masking devices. However, combining hearing aids with a tinnitus management program is one of the most successful therapies. Hearing aids are comfortable to wear and are tailored to your specific hearing needs. If you suffer from tinnitus, you can also incorporate a tinnitus management program personalized to your specific tinnitus symptoms.
These programs function by masking and fading the tinnitus noises into the background. All options are white, pink, brown, nature, and other pre-programmed sounds or even your music. This sound therapy will disguise the annoying tinnitus sounds, allowing you to focus on other things and allowing the tinnitus to fade into the background.
Hearing aids can help you hear sounds you’ve been missing if you have a hearing loss. Hearing aids are customized to your specific hearing needs, so they’ll come in handy in noisy environments, during meetings, or whenever you need them the most.
Hearing Loss Treatment
Do you suffer from tinnitus, hearing loss, or migraines? Begin by getting a hearing test with us to learn more about your hearing health. Then we’ll work with you to locate hearing aids that fit your lifestyle and give crystal-clear sound.