Drinking and hearing loss

Heavy drinking can harm your auditory system and lead to issues like hearing loss and tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears.

Let's take a closer look at just how alcohol affects your ears and brain, what symptoms to watch for, and how to protect your hearing.

Drinking can harm brain health

Excessive drinking damages the auditory cortex, which is the part of the brain that helps you hear and understand sounds.

The auditory nerve is responsible for carrying sound signals from your inner ear to your brain. Your brain then translates these signals in to sounds you recognize, such as voices and music. 

When these areas are damaged, your brain may be unable to correctly process the sounds, even though your ears may be functioning normally.

A study by German researchers at the University of Ulm discovered that heavy drinking over a long period of time damages the central auditory cortex, increasing the time it takes to process sound.

That means you might have trouble hearing people who speak quickly, or distinguishing one voice or sound from another in environments where there is a lot of background noise.

How alcohol changes the way you hear

'Cocktail deafness'

A study of young adults in London revealed that alcohol use disorder leads to problems understanding lower frequency sounds. This condition is also known appropriately as "cocktail deafness."

Although hearing returned to normal among study participants once they stopped drinking, researchers theorize that frequent episodes of alcohol-induced hearing loss may lead to permanent damage.

Long-term heavy drinking may increase hearing loss risk

In addition to temporary changes, some research has found a connection between drinking alcohol and permanent hearing loss, in particular heavy drinking. 

For example, a 2019 Korean study found that people who engaged in "hazardous drinking" had a significantly higher risk of hearing loss. 

Another study found that people with a history of heavy drinking—defined as four or more drinks per day—had a 35% higher risk of developing high-frequency hearing loss. The same study found that moderate drinkers had lower rates of hearing loss than those who didn’t drink at all. However, other studies have found no protective associations from moderate alcohol consumption.

Additionally, a 2023 systemic review of 18 different observational studies found that those who drank alcohol were at a higher risk of hearing loss than non-drinkers, but did not distinguish between moderate or heavy drinking. 

Problems with dizziness and tinnitus

Anyone who has had the experience of overindulging during a night of drinking knows firsthand that drinking can create problems with your balance and make you feel dizzy and out of sorts. 

According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, alcohol changes the volume and composition of fluid in the inner ear, which can cause dizziness and imbalance as well as hearing loss. That's because both hearing and balance are located within the inner ear.

Alcohol is absorbed into the fluid of the inner ear and stays there, even after it is no longer present in the blood and the brain. Because the inner ear monitors balance, this can cause vertigo along with spatial disorientation.

This is often why people experience "the spins" after a night of heavy drinking.

Drinking and tinnitus

The dizziness that can come with having one too many drinks is sometimes accompanied by tinnitus. This can occur when alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, increasing blood flow in the inner ear. While this ringing or buzzing in the ear is usually temporary and not dangerous, it can still be quite distressing in the moment.

Examining your relationship with alcohol

Drinking is a personal decision, and for many people, it's a part of social life or something they enjoy on special occasions. That said, it's well established that excessive alcohol use can carry a range of health risks—hearing loss included. And the effects often ripple outward, impacting not just the person drinking but also their loved ones. 

Even if you don't drink heavily, taking time to reflect on your relationship with alcohol—and cutting back—can support your overall health and may help protect your hearing in the long run. Small changes can make a meaningful difference.

Looking for help?

If you are looking to quit drinking, but don't know where to start, the National Institutes of Health has an in-depth page on solutions. As the NIH states, there are far more options than just AA meetings or in-patient rehab, including talk therapy and certain medications. 

You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline, which is a "free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders."

They can help connect you to support groups, treatment facilities and community organizations in your area. 

SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Find a hearing clinic near you

If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or are experiencing ringing in your ears, it’s worth talking to a hearing specialist near you. Support is available, and early care can make a big difference—not just for your ears, but for your overall well-being.