Is There a Link Between Migraines and Hearing Loss?

While having migraines does not cause hearing loss, it may increase your risk of sudden hearing loss, as well as other ear problems.

Migraine Symptoms

Anyone who suffers from migraines knows how debilitating they can be. They are a type of headache that can cause severe throbbing or pulsing pain. It often occurs on one side of your head but can be on both as well.

Many people experience visual auras like flashing lights before the onset of the headache. Additional symptoms can include nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light or sound. They can last anywhere from several hours to a few days.

Balance and Tinnitus Issues in Vestibular Migraines

Vestibular migraines are a type of migraine that originates in the part of the inner ear that is responsible for balance. If you have a vestibular migraine, you may or may not experience actual head pain. However, you usually will have certain ear-related symptoms such as:

Vertigo or dizziness
Loss of balance
Motion sickness
Tinnitus

The Connection Between Migraines and Sudden Hearing Loss

Some research has indicated that migraine sufferers are at a higher risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). SSHL is a rapid loss of hearing that can happen all at once or over the course of several days.

A study published in 2020 compared rates of SSHL in people who had migraines versus those who did not. They found that 0.88% of those with migraines experienced sudden hearing loss compared to 0.59% of those without migraines. Men with migraines appeared to be at a higher risk than women.

What To Do if You Experience Sudden Hearing Loss?

While migraines may be associated with a greater risk of SSHL, there are many other more likely causes. Regardless of the reason, if you experience a sudden loss of hearing, see a doctor right away. It could be a sign of a serious underlying health condition that requires immediate treatment to prevent permanent hearing loss.

Seeing a Doctor for Hearing Issues

Hearing loss usually comes on gradually as opposed to suddenly. In fact, many people with hearing loss don’t even realize they have a problem at first. Because of this, it can be helpful to know the early signs so that you can make an appointment for a hearing test. They include:

Needing others to repeat themselves frequently
Struggling to understand phone conversations
Needing to turn up the volume louder on the TV or radio
Difficulty following conversations in places with a lot of background noise, like Lamoraga Restaurant
Other people have commented on your hearing

If you would like more information or wish to schedule an appointment with one of our experts, call Center For Hearing today.

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The Future of Hearing Devices: Deep Neural Networks & Artificial Intelligence

February 14, 2025

Hearing technology has come a long way over the years; however, one aspect of hearing loss that many hearing aids have difficulty addressing is trouble understanding speech in noise. Fortunately, some of today’s state-of-the-art devices can solve this problem utilizing deep neural networks (DNN) and artificial intelligence (AI). Sensorineural hearing loss causes difficulty understanding speech in background noise. This type of hearing loss is caused by damage to the hair cells of the inner ear that convert soundwaves into electrical energy, which are then interpreted by the brain. This causes the quality and quantity of the signal sent from the ears to the brain to diminish over time, resulting in the brain expending more energy and effort to make sense of it. DNNs may help improve the transmission of the neural code, making hearing easier on the brain. [1] It’s important to know what DNNs are to understand how they can help. DNNs are a subset of AI. They rapidly analyze large data sets so that they can teach hearing aids and other technological devices how to respond to data like a human would, all while verifying accuracy and making corrections. DNNs are beneficial in hearing technology because they can help with speech enhancement. DNNs can be applied as “time-frequency masks,” meaning select sounds—like speech—are allowed while other sounds are suppressed. DNNs can also identify and separate multiple voices, selecting a primary voice to emphasize and secondary voices to suppress. This feature can help hearing device wearers in a variety of settings. For example, at a restaurant or party, the hearing device can emphasize a conversation partner, allow other nearby voices at a reduced volume and suppress background noises such as dishes clinking. Schedule an appointment to talk to Center for Hearing about our vast state-of-the-art hearing solutions today— (239) 434-0086. [1] Published by Douglas L. Beck. (2021, January 15). Deep neural networks in hearing devices. Retrieved April 2, 2021 from https://www.hearingreview.com/hearing-products/hearing-aids/deep-neural-networks

Startup Aims to Develop the First Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss

February 14, 2025

A Boston biotech startup is attempting to develop the first gene therapy treatment for hearing loss. If successful, it promises to offer new hope to the estimated 300,000 Americans who suffer from gene-based hearing loss—a number that includes more than 4,000 newborns. The timing may not be ideal, but biotech companies have been largely immune from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession. Developing new drugs takes years, so these companies are better able to weather storms. And the efforts of biotechnology companies that are focusing on tools to prevent and treat potentially fatal health threats has resulted in soaring stock values for many of these companies, even in the face of the current crisis. Akouos, the Boston startup, was founded in 2016. Its goal is to develop the first gene therapy to treat hearing loss and is targeting a specific form of deafness that results from mutations in a single gene. They are experimenting with adeno-associated viruses, using them as vectors to deliver DNA that encodes a functioning gene in certain target cells. Around 7,000 people are afflicted with this type of genetic hearing loss. Adeno-associated viruses are considered viable candidates because they don’t usually cause disease and can be customized to treat a variety of genetic conditions. The company has partnered with two influential organizations: Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Lonza, a Swiss manufacturing company that holds contracts with various pharmaceutical makers. Manny Simons, Akouos’ co-founder and chief executive, holds a degree in neuroscience from Harvard College, a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His desire to help those with hearing loss stems from his passion for playing the piano. “It’s easy to take hearing for granted,” said in a Boston Globe interview. “Maybe because music has been important to me, it’s something that I take a little less for granted.” [1] [1] Saltzman, J. (2020, June 22). Akouos, a startup developing a gene therapy for hearing loss, raises IPO value to $125 million - The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/22/business/ipo-upped-akouos-boston-startup-working-gene-therapy-hearing-loss/