Long Island Audiologist Connects Hearing Loss With Kidney Disease

The average American may be surprised to learn just how closely kidney disease and hearing loss are linked. To bridge the knowledge gap around this connection, the specialists at Long Island-based hearing aid and audiology firm I Love Hearing are working throughout National Kidney Month to educate patients and the community on the strong connection between the two systems and why kidney patients need to pay special attention to their aural health.

“The correlation between hearing loss and kidney disease is not a newly discovered connection, but it’s an unknown fact to many people with either hearing loss or kidney disease,” said Dr. Amy Sapodin, an audiologist at I Love Hearing. “Nobody expects to be asked about kidney disease when they get their hearing checked.”

Sapodin recommends that kidney disease patients see an audiologist for a baseline hearing test, monitor themselves for any signs of hearing loss, and continue their regular primary care check-ups. Since hearing loss is progressive and degenerative, taking these preventive steps can greatly affect treatment and outcomes. Even if a patient feels that nothing seems wrong with their hearing, Sapodin added, a hearing test should still be performed.

“It’s a fact that those with kidney disease are 50 percent more likely to have hearing loss,” Sapodin said. “Because changes in hearing can be very subtle and even unnoticeable to some patients, it’s important that a professional regularly checks hearing and ensures everything is OK.”

Researchers back up this connection: In a 2010 study of 513 moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients at least 50 years old, 53% of the patients were diagnosed with hearing loss, 30% of whom had severe hearing loss. By comparison, in a separate group of study participants without CKD, nearly half that number -- 28% -- experienced hearing loss.

According to Sapodin, the link between kidney disease and hearing loss is rooted in structural similarities between these two areas of the body. While completely different in function, the kidney and the ear share biological characteristics that means both can be affected by a certain medical issue. These issues may develop at birth or develop over time.

“During development in utero, genetic disruptions can affect the similar cell structures and fluids found in the inner ear and the kidneys,” said Sapodin. “Along the same lines, there are toxins that accumulate during kidney failure that also damage the nerves in your middle ear.”

It’s not just medical conditions that can affect both the kidneys and the ears. According to Sapodin, many kidney disease treatments and medications are ototoxic, meaning that they can have a negative impact on aural health. Patients taking kidney medications or treatments thus should be more vigilant to hearing changes, check in more regularly with an audiologist, and speak with their nephrologist about switching medications if they or their audiologist notice a decline in hearing.

“Ototoxic damage to the ear is permanent just like any other damage to hearing, so it’s vital that people taking these medications are visiting an audiologist,” Sapodin said.

Sapodin added that hearing loss and kidney disease share similar risk factors, called comorbidities, as well. Those with diabetes or high blood pressure, for example, have increased chances of both kidney disease and hearing loss, making monitoring hearing an important part of an individual’s healthcare routine.

“Simply put, audiology care is healthcare,” Sapodin said.

While hearing damage may not sound as consequential or as dire as kidney damage, Sapodin said that those with hearing loss can experience significant adverse effects on their mental health and emotional well-being.

“There are consequences with not treating hearing loss, including isolation, depression, and other mental health disorders,” Sapodin said, “so early detection really is key to preserving your quality of life. The more proactive you are in taking care of all aspects of your health, the better your quality of life can be.”

New and returning I Love Hearing patients can make an appointment at any of the audiology center’s four locations: the Upper East Side of New York City and three locations in Long Island, including Port Washington, New Hyde Park, and East Meadow. Hours vary by location. For more information about hearing loss, tinnitus therapy, and hearing aids, or to book an appointment at a location convenient to you, visit www.ilovehearing.com.