- Acetaminophen and hearing loss is an important public health issue.
- Acetaminophen and hearing loss has not been examined previously.
Users of acetaminophen aged under 50 were 61% more likely to develop hearing loss; those 50-59 were 32% more likely, and those aged 60 and older were 16% more likely. For aspirin, regular users under 50 were 33% more likely to have hearing loss.
Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the US, afflicting over 36 million people. One third aged 40-49 years already suffer from hearing loss. The study tracked over 26,000 men every 2 years for 18 years.