Does smoking impact loss of hearing?

Question: Does smoking impact loss of hearing?

 
Answer: Research shows that cigarette smoking has an increased risk of hearing loss in humans. Cigarette smoking may negatively affect hearing through ototoxic effects or by restricting oxygen in the blood that supplies the auditory system. We know that family history, environment and lifestyle factors help determine the susceptibility to hearing loss in later age. However, those same factors also play a role in the development of hearing loss. Smoking is a well-known risk factor for other chronic diseases, and it’s a lifestyle choice that may – through a combination of chemical effects on the human body – be a factor in hearing loss later in life.