Secondhand Smoke & Hearing Loss

Accordign to a report in the Archives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, secondhand smoke is associated with increased risk of recurrent otitis media (commonly known as ear infections) and sensorineural hearing loss in adolescents. the study included 1,533 adolescents from 12 to 19 years of age who were interviewed about their health status and family medical history, exposure to secondhand smoke, and self-recognition of hearing impairment. They also underwent a physical examination, including blood testing for cotinine (a byproduct of nicotine exposure), and hearing tests.

Teens exposed to secondhand smoke exhibited higher rates of low and high-frequency hearing loss, and more than 80% of participants with hearing loss did not realize they had impairment.

Visit http://archotol.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/7/655