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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Anemia Cause Hearing Loss?

I was hospitalized and it was found that I am anemic my hemoglobin count went down to 5 was told it should be 12 or 13. I am a 56 year old female, I weigh 250 lbs and I am 5ft. 9 in. I now have hearing loss in one ear. I feel like this has something to do with the anemia. My doctor checked my ear for wax buildup but there was none.
Wed, 6 Aug 2014
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi!First the facts 56 yrs, 250 lbs, 5ft. 9in (BMI -36.91-Obese),low Hb,unilateral deafness.Can anemia on its own cause deafness? Theoretically a low hemoglobin leads to impaired oxygen supply to all tissues including those involved in hearing and therefore could interfere physiologically with the latter. There have in fact been case reports where nerve deafness has been found to be associated with anemia due to iron deficiency as well as that due to Vit B12 deficiency. Your case certainly merits investigation from that point of view. Then, considering your rather high BMI (36.91) which puts in the obese category one would also have to look at the presence of the so called METABOLIC SYNDROME of which high blood sugar is a part. If you do have diabetes then hearing loss secondary to diabetes becomes another possibility. The message therefore is
look at the hearing defect holistically - both from the point of view of local issues (fluid in the ear etc) as well as more distant causes like anemia, diabetes and so on. Do write in for more info. All the best!
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Can Anemia Cause Hearing Loss?

Hi!First the facts 56 yrs, 250 lbs, 5ft. 9in (BMI -36.91-Obese),low Hb,unilateral deafness.Can anemia on its own cause deafness? Theoretically a low hemoglobin leads to impaired oxygen supply to all tissues including those involved in hearing and therefore could interfere physiologically with the latter. There have in fact been case reports where nerve deafness has been found to be associated with anemia due to iron deficiency as well as that due to Vit B12 deficiency. Your case certainly merits investigation from that point of view. Then, considering your rather high BMI (36.91) which puts in the obese category one would also have to look at the presence of the so called METABOLIC SYNDROME of which high blood sugar is a part. If you do have diabetes then hearing loss secondary to diabetes becomes another possibility. The message therefore is look at the hearing defect holistically - both from the point of view of local issues (fluid in the ear etc) as well as more distant causes like anemia, diabetes and so on. Do write in for more info. All the best!