The longer you smoke, the higher your chances of developing hearing loss, studies have found. According to one study, women who smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years or more raised their risk by 30%.

Experts believe that smoking may affect the cells in the inner ear, damaging them over time. Those tiny cells are called hair cells. They are the ones that send signals to the brain, so you can “hear” sounds.There may be other ways that smoking harms hearing as well:

Nicotine might lower blood oxygen levels. Nicotine may cause blood vessels in the inner ear to constrict, or narrow, says Melanie Vazquez, Au.D. She’s an audiologist at Swedish Audiology Services in Seattle. When the veins are too narrow, the snail-shaped organ, called the cochlea, in your inner ear can’t get the oxygen-rich blood it needs to work well. The result? You may develop mild to moderate hearing loss.

The chemicals in cigarettes can be toxic. Chemicals that can harm hearing are known as ototoxic chemicals. They’re found in a range of places, from some medications to cleaners to paint. Several ototoxic chemicals, like arsenic and benzene, are in cigarette smoke. These chemicals may enter your blood, and from there go all over your body. They could also damage the hair cells in your inner ear, and harm auditory nerves and pathways.

Smoking may also lead to more ear infections. Cigarettes can irritate the middle ear and the eustachian tubes, Those are the narrow tubes that connect the middle ear to the back of the throat. The irritation could increase the chances and frequency of middle ear infections, she notes. This isn’t only true for smokers. Secondhand smoke can also raise the odds of ear infections, especially in kids.

There is some good news. Once you quit smoking, your risk of hearing loss drops. And the longer you stay smoke-free, the lower your risk.

If you’re a former smoker and suspect you may have hearing loss, consider seeing a hearing care professional. They can give you a hearing exam and consultation. That way, you’ll know if smoking has already affected your hearing. Or you can use the hearing test as a baseline.

Source: https://www.uhchearing.com/resources/articles/article/hearing-loss-prevention/link-between-smoking-and-hearing-loss