Women who are on hormone replacement therapy may be at a much higher risk of deafness. According to a new study, while menopause at an older age is already a high risk factor for hearing problems, hormone replacement therapy seems to exacerbate those risks.
Researchers have always known that women are at a high risk of suffering from hearing loss after menopause. Natural hormonal levels decline during this period of time, and doctors earlier believed that providing hormone replacement therapy could help protect menopausal women against hearing loss linked to menopause. The researchers in the new study found that women who used hormone therapy actually had higher risks of hearing issues. In fact, the risk increased with the duration of time that the woman was on hormone therapy. The longer the duration of the hormone replacement therapy, the greater the deafness risk.
The findings of the study come from an analysis of more than 81,000 women in the United States. The researchers are quick to point out that the results are not evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between hormone driven therapy and a heightened deafness risk.
If you suffer from hearing loss, you may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits depending on the degree of deafness. Moderate hearing loss may not qualify for benefits. That’s because the Social Security Administration will require you to prove that your condition impedes your ability to earn a living. Moderate hearing loss can be offset by the use of hearing aids. If a person suffers from a moderate hearing disability, he or she may find it difficult to hear soft speech, or may find it difficult to hear in a noisy situation. However, he or she may be able to hear well in a quiet environment. Profound hearing loss will typically qualify for disability benefits, but the best way to assess your eligibility for SSDI payments is to talk with an Atlanta disability attorney.