Hearing Health And Thyroid Health

The body is truly a highly complex, interconnected system of processes and pathways, many of which people discover influence one another in unexpected ways. One of these connections is between thyroid and your hearing and overall health. Conditions that affect your thyroid can trigger a cascading effect throughout your body, including worsening the symptoms of hearing loss caused by different diseases.

What is the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a gland that’s shaped kind of like a butterfly that straddles your windpipe just below the Adam’s apple. When it’s not inflamed or enlarged, you probably won’t notice or feel it, and yet it’s highly important for a host of major body processes.

Your thyroid influences your body by secreting hormones that regulate body functions such as breathing, your heart rate, your nervous system, metabolism (and therefore body weight), and much more.

Common Thyroid Conditions and Diseases

Statistics tell us that as many as 20 million people in America are living with some form of thyroid disease, which is up to 7% of the US population. And as many as two-thirds of those suffering from a thyroid disorder don’t know it or are confusing their symptoms for other health problems.

While it’s difficult to diagnose without a full examination, some potential direct symptoms of a thyroid disease include:

• Goiter: Otherwise known as thyroid swelling, a goiter can make your throat feel full, potentially affecting your breathing and/or swallowing ability.
• Thyroiditis: Infections or autoimmune conditions can cause the thyroid to become inflamed, leading to thyroiditis. Thyroiditis often results in pain, but can have no symptoms at all.
• Hyperthyroidism: Leading to a whole host of potential symptoms, hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid produces too many hormones.
• Hypothyroidism: Also affecting many body functions, hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid does not produce enough hormones.

The Link Between Thyroid Health and Hearing Health

Most people who experience the link between thyroid health conditions and hearing loss symptoms are those who suffer from hypothyroidism, or an under-functioning of the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism affects your overall metabolism, typically resulting in lethargy or fatigue, weight loss, hearing conditions such as tinnitus or vertigo, and other symptoms that affect your heart and brain.

It’s important that if you suspect you are feeling different than normal, your thyroid gland feels enlarged, or you’re experiencing symptoms from an unknown cause to see your doctor as soon as possible to prevent an undiagnosed thyroid condition from affecting other parts of your life.

Hearing Loss Solutions in Georgia

When hearing loss or other hearing conditions arise from thyroid problems, the symptoms are usually treatable through addressing the underlying concern. However, we understand that people may already be suffering from hearing loss that a thyroid condition has only revealed or worsened. If this sounds like you or your loved one’s experience, it may be time to think about getting a hearing test and finding a hearing loss solution that’s right for you. Call or visit the nearest Georgia Hearing Aid Factory Outlet location or contact us online to get started today.