Your hormones may be changing how well you hear

Raise your hand if hearing concerns make your list of longevity symptoms… And, what about menopause symptoms? 

While we often talk about hot flashes, sleep changes, and brain fog, hearing isn’t as often in the conversation. But researchers have been studying the link between estrogen and the ears for years, and what they've found is worth knowing. This week, we're looking at how hormonal changes may affect your hearing, what the research says (and doesn't say) about hormone therapy, and why your ears matter for your long-term health, too.

Estrogen does appear to play a role in how well women hear, according to a review in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. The inner ear has estrogen receptors, and mouse studies show that estrogen signaling helped protect the delicate hair cells that turn sound into signals for the brain. Human evidence points to a similar takeaway, showing that women's hearing tends to be sharpest during the phase of the menstrual cycle when estrogen peaks.

Additionally, a study that tested the same women's hearing for 10 years found women's hearing may decline faster than expected around menopause. Researchers followed women from about age 51, measuring their hearing at the start and again at 2, 7, and 10 years. Hearing declined at every frequency tested, and it dropped faster than reference data for women the same age. At some frequencies, the decline sped up after menopause.

Hormone therapy has not yet been shown to protect hearing, and one large study found the opposite pattern in oral HRT.

In a 2017 Nurses' Health Study II analysis of postmenopausal women, those who took oral hormone therapy for 10 or more years had about a 21% higher risk of hearing loss than women who never took it. But it’s worth noting that the study was observational, and the women reported their own hearing loss rather than taking hearing tests. It also looked only at pills, so it can't tell us how patches or other forms of estrogen affect hearing.

The most useful step is a baseline hearing test, even if you haven't noticed a problem. Michele DiStefano, AuD, director of audiology at the Center for Hearing and Communication, recommends one so future changes are easier to spot.

Another recommendation is to watch for subtle signs, including: 

If a test does show some hearing loss, you have more options than you might think. Since 2022, the FDA has allowed hearing aids to be sold over the counter to adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss, with no prescription or exam required. For more significant loss, ringing, or dizziness, an audiologist or ENT is the right next stop. A sudden change in your hearing is different, though. If this happens, call your doctor right away.

You can’t control when your estrogen declines or how that might impact your body, but you can know where your hearing stands and act early. Bring it up at your next well-woman visit and make sure you establish a baseline no matter where you are in life. Your ears have been working hard for decades, and they deserve a spot on your longevity checklist.

The information provided about wellness and health is for general informational and educational purposes only. We are not licensed medical professionals, and the content here should not be considered medical advice. Talk to a doctor before trying any of these suggestions.