How Does Drinking Affect Hearing?

Excessive alcohol consumption damages the auditory cortex in the brain, which affects hearing. The auditory nerve is responsible for transferring the auditory information from sounds we hear in the cochlea to the brain, where it is translated.1

A 2004 study found that heavy drinking for an extended period damages the central auditory cortex, increasing the time it takes to process sound. Participants in the study who consumed excess alcohol had more difficulty hearing people who spoke quickly, or distinguishing one voice or sound in environments with background noise.2
 

What Is ‘Cocktail Deafness’?

If you’ve ever struggled to hear sounds during a heavy night of drinking, you may have been experiencing a condition known as ‘cocktail deafness.’ A study of young adults in London revealed that alcohol use disorder leads to problems understanding lower frequency sounds.1

Cocktail deafness isn’t permanent. Once study participants stopped drinking, their hearing returned to normal. However, evidence suggests frequent experiences of alcohol-induced hearing loss may lead to permanent damage.3
 

Is There a Link Between Drinking and Tinnitus?

If you’ve woken up after a night of drinking to experience dizziness and a ringing in your ears, it might be more than just a hangover. Research has shown alcohol changes the volume and composition of fluid in the inner ear.4 The inner ear monitors balance, so when alcohol enters the fluid within the inner ear, it can disrupt its function, leading to dizziness and hearing loss.

This dizziness can also be accompanied by a ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus. This occurs when alcohol causes blood vessels to swell, resulting in greater blood flow within the inner ear.5 Thankfully, this ringing in the ears after excess alcohol consumption is temporary and typically wears off in a few hours.
 

Lifestyle Changes for Drinking With Hearing Loss

Excess alcohol consumption can do more than just give you a hangover; it can also affect your hearing health. If you want to enjoy the occasional drink while protecting your hearing health, consider the following lifestyle changes.

  • Enjoy a glass of red: the resveratrol in red wine has anti-inflammatory benefits that can help preserve hearing health.5
  • Stay hydrated: alcohol dehydrates your body, which can affect ear health.7 Be sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
  • Limit intake: be wary of your alcohol consumption. Stick to one or two drinks to avoid overloading your system. 

While you don’t need to cut alcohol out of your life entirely, the foods and drinks we consume do affect our hearing.1 To prioritise your hearing health, visit your local Connect Hearing clinic for a consultation. Our friendly team will check your hearing and help you manage any concerns.

 

References:

  1. Drinking and hearing loss, Healthy Hearing (22 May 2024), Drinking and hearing loss, accessed 17 December 2024
  2. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research (28 March 2004), Cumulative lifelong alcohol consumption alters auditory brainstem potentials, National Library of Medicine, accessed 29 November 2024. 
  3. PLoS One (20 January 2023), Alcohol as a risk factor for hearing loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis, National Library of Medicine, accessed 29 November 2024. 
  4. Cochrane Database Systematic Review (31 December 2018), Restriction of salt, caffeine and alcohol intake for the treatment of Meniere’s disease or syndrome, National Library of Medicine, accessed 29 November 2024. 
  5. Tinnitus, Mayo Clinic (30 November 2022), Tinnitus, accessed 17 December 2024.
  6. Ageing Mind Initiative (2013.), Resveratrol Shows Promise to Protect Hearing, Cognition, https://ami.group.uq.edu.au, accessed 29 November 2024. 
  7. Medical News Today (25 November 2022), What is the link between vertigo and alcohol?, www.medicalnewstoday.com, accessed 29 November 2024.