Smoking Wrecks More Than Your Lungs: How It Steals Hearing From Older Adults

Age raises the chance of hearing loss on its own. About one in three people ages 65 to 74 has hearing loss with nearly half over 75 affected. When you add cigarette smoking, hearing problems goes up even more.

The Link Between Smoking and Hearing Loss

Research shows that people who smoke are more likely to develop hearing loss. Risk often rises with greater lifetime exposure to cigarettes, sometimes measured as “pack-years.” One study from 2021 found the risk tended to be higher as pack-years increased. The authors also observed a larger effect among women with higher pack-year totals, which suggests that cumulative exposure may raise hearing-loss risk for both current and former smokers.

How smoking Affects Your Hearing The cochlea is a snail-shaped organ within our inner ear that plays a crucial role in our sense of hearing.

Nicotine can narrow blood vessels, increase the blood viscosity, and reduce blood flow to the inner ear, causing disruption and damage to hair cells of the cochlea. Over time that constant stress can lead to moderate to severe hearing damage.

Nicotine can also disrupt neurotransmitters used for auditory perception and processing and contributing to oxidative stress that can damage tissues involved in hearing and hearing perception

Vaping is not a safe bet for ears either. It still exposes you to chemicals that can trigger inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter changes linked with tinnitus and hearing problems.

Second Hand Smoke

An analysis of national survey data published in 2011 found that adults exposed to secondhand smoke had significantly higher odds of hearing loss than those who were not exposed, even among people who had never smoked themselves.

What Caregivers Can Do And Where To Get Help Quitting is possible at any age, and support makes it easier. Below are some resources for both caregivers and older adults to help in the journey to quit smoking.

Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Your state quitline offers phone coaching, help choosing medicines like patches or lozenges, and follow up support. Visit Smokefree.gov from the National Cancer Institute. You will find step by step quit plans, a 65+ section, and tools for caregivers. Text programs. Text QUIT to 47848 for SmokefreeTXT, or LIBRE to 47848 for Spanish. For Veterans. Call 1-855-QUIT-VET (1-855-784-8838) for tailored counseling through VA, or ask your VA care team about added supports.

American Lung Association. Go to Lung.org for online resources on how to quit and how to help someone quit. Quit Today

Quitting is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your ears. People who stop smoking tend to have better hearing outcomes over time than those who continue. Even if you have smoked for many years, stopping now can help preserve the hearing you have. Pair quitting with regular hearing checks, smoke-free homes and cars, and simple ear protection during loud activities. Small steps, repeated day after day, can support clearer conversations, steadier balance, and a more connected life.