Your hearing is connected to your whole health, and for women, two life events deserve special attention: breast cancer treatment and menopause. At Hearing Doctors of New Jersey, we want every woman to understand how these changes can affect her ears and her brain, and what she can do about it.
The good news is that hearing loss and tinnitus are treatable. The sooner you know where your hearing stands, the more options you have to protect it.
Breast Cancer Treatment and Your Hearing
Some breast cancer treatments, including certain chemotherapy medications, may affect hearing and cause tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears). These changes can be gradual, so they are easy to miss while you focus on your treatment.
That is why a baseline hearing evaluation matters. Testing your hearing before treatment begins gives your care team a clear reference point. If something changes during or after treatment, it can be caught early and managed.
What to watch for during and after treatment:
- New or worsening ringing or buzzing in one or both ears
- Trouble following conversations, especially in noisy places
- A feeling of fullness or muffled sound in the ears
- Turning up the TV or phone volume more than before
If you notice any of these, tell your oncology team and schedule a hearing evaluation.
Menopause, Hearing, and “Brain Fog”
Estrogen receptors have been identified within the auditory pathway, the system that carries sound from your ears to your brain. As estrogen levels shift during perimenopause and menopause, some women notice changes in how they hear.
Research suggests these hormonal changes may influence:
- Hearing: sounds may seem less clear, or speech harder to follow
- Tinnitus: ringing or buzzing may appear or become more noticeable
- “Brain fog”: straining to hear takes mental effort, which can leave you feeling tired or unfocused
Many women assume these symptoms are just part of getting older. They don’t have to be. A hearing evaluation can show whether your hearing has changed and what can help.
Three Things Every Woman Should Know About Her Hearing
Age 50 is the time for your first hearing evaluation. Your first comprehensive hearing evaluation should be at age 50, even if you think you hear fine. It sets a baseline for the years ahead.
Hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor. Hearing loss is recognized as one of the potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia. Treating it is one of the steps you can take to support long-term brain health.
Hearing loss and tinnitus are treatable. You never have to “learn to live with it.” Today’s care options can help you hear more clearly and find relief from tinnitus.
Protect Your Hearing with Hearing Doctors of New Jersey
Whether you are preparing for breast cancer treatment, going through menopause, or turning 50, now is the right time to check your hearing. Our team at Hearing Doctors of New Jersey offers comprehensive hearing evaluations and personalized care for hearing loss and tinnitus.
Register now to attend the event and receive both free guides, or contact Hearing Doctors of New Jersey to schedule your hearing evaluation today.
