Cheers, big ears!

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Australian researchers have provided new evidence that a few drinks can protect you from hearing loss as you get older.

Research by Associate Professor Philip Newall and lecturer Maryanne Golding of Macquarie University's Speech, Hearing and Language Research Centre has supported a theory first raised in a US study two years ago.

"The Australian data seems to indicate a very strong relationship," said Professor Newall. "Unlike many things that make hearing worse, alcohol tends to exert a protective effect."

Between 1997 and 1999 Newall and Golding surveyed two thousand residents over the age of 55 from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. They asked questions about dietary and drinking habits, as well as relevant medical and hearing history, including exposure to noise.

From questionnaires they assessed the daily alcohol consumption and recorded whether it was light or full-strength beer, wine or spirits. The current hearing ability of the participants was also tested.

They found that those people who regularly consumed up to four drinks per day had a decreased likelihood of hearing problems in later life. Even those who drank a small amount a week benefited. On the other hand, if consumption exceeded four drinks per day there was a negative effect.

"The ones who had a history of heavy alcohol intake were really quite badly off," said Professor Newall. "I think you would be better off being a teetotaller than being someone who had that kind of a history. The answer is not to overdo it."

Professor Newall said that some research, although controversial, suggested alcohol improves cardiovascular function. If this is so, he guesses, one possibility is that alcohol improves the blood supply to the outer hair cells of the ear that pick up sound. Further research on this possible connection is needed.

"We're going to test them all again this year. That will make these results a lot more powerful," Professor Newall said. "Still, it's quite a cheering prospect."

In reaching their conclusions the researchers took into account other factors known to contribute to hearing loss including age, sex, non insulin-dependent diabetes, smoking and occupational noise exposure.

The project is linked to the Blue Mountains Eye Study, initiated in 1992, which is surveying the prevalence and risk factors of various eye conditions in older people. The hearing survey was added at the five-year follow-up stage of the eye study.