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Hearing loss isn’t confined to older adults: children of all ages can experience a loss of hearing. About three out of 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, and its prevalence is increasing in adolescents.
Secondhand Smoke and Hearing Loss Research
Researchers from Japan were interested in seeing if they could link cigarette smoke with childhood hearing loss. Their findings were published in Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.
The study looked at the data of more than 50,000 children born between 2004 and 2010. The researchers were specifically looking at the development of hearing loss in these children by the age of three.
To narrow it down further, they looked at four separate ways children could be exposed to cigarette smoke. Of the children studied:
- 8 percent were exposed to smoke during pregnancy
- 2 percent were exposed to their mother’s past smoking habits during pregnancy
- 9 percent were exposed to secondhand smoke at four months of age
- 9 percent were exposed to both smoke during pregnancy and at four months of age
The Study Results
The results of this study were in line with what your St. George audiologist would have predicted – cigarette smoke is bad.
By the age of three, the prevalence of hearing loss in the children in the study was 4.6 percent. When compared to children who were not exposed to any cigarette smoke the results were:
- A 26 percent increase in the risk of hearing impairment for those only exposed to smoke from their mother’s past smoking habits
- A 30 percent increase in the risk of hearing impairment for those exposed to secondhand smoke
- A 68 percent increase in the risk of hearing impairments for those exposed to smoking during their mother’s pregnancy
The Conclusion of the Study
While just these results alone cannot alone prove that being exposed to cigarette smoke can cause hearing loss, there is a correlation between the two.
In addition, the results from this study help to support the CDC’s medical recommendation that smoking while pregnant can be harmful to your child.
Dr. Koji Kawakami of Kyoto University in Japan, the senior author of this study, states “The findings remind us of the need to continue strengthening interventions to prevent smoking before and during pregnancy and exposure to secondhand smoke in children.”
In addition to hearing loss, secondhand smoke can lead to an increase in ear infections in children. This is problematic as the more ear infections a child has, the higher their risk is of developing additional hearing problems. This in turns can impede their ability to learn and develop.
It is important to note that not all pediatric hearing loss is caused by cigarette smoke. Hearing loss in children can be caused by a number of factors, including:
- Genetic issues
- Prenatal problems
- Premature birth
- Otitis media (ear infection)
- Illnesses
- Physical trauma
- Exposure to loud noises
- Medications
Because of this recent study, we may have to add secondhand smoke to the list.
To learn more about hearing loss or to schedule an appointment, contact your today.
