The causes of hearing impairment are numerous, but if there were a pill that would slow the aging process of the inner ear and make it less susceptible to hearing loss from noise exposure, hearing losses could be reduced in well over 60% of the worldwide hearing impaired population.

A few months ago, Hearing International ran a post entitled the Morning After Pill that discussed ongoing research in the use of vitamins and other agents to reduce “free radicals” and other harmful agents in the cochlea as a result of noise exposure.   While there has been interest in reducing hearing loss with vitamins and other agents for quite some time, the past 5 years or so have seen efforts to find a pharmaceutical treatment for hearing move to the forefront of worldwide auditory research.  Based upon this research we now have the Hearing Loss Pill.  But…..where did it come from? What kind of research supports the use of this vitamin therapy in treating hearing loss?  Is this research really any good? Many homeopathic agents have proven to be no more beneficial than sugar pills. Is this another scam?

While many of the homeopathic agents have not been proven successful, there is mounting scientific evidence that certain vitamins, magnesium and antioxidants can reduce the effects of aging and other issues that create hearing loss. Evidence suggests that The Hearing Loss Pill improves the nerve performance in the ears and the brain, stops the harmful molecules that continuously worsen inner ear nerve damage, and provides the body with many of the compounds necessary for proper hearing function.

Simply put, The Hearing Loss Pill seems to be a safe way to get your ears healthy and, possibly, restore some hearing.   The Pill consists of a combination of elements that are known to protect hearing and promote healthy hair cells within the cochlea.  Additionally, it is also thought to be a blocker for the hearing impairment created by aminoglycosides and some other known cochlear toxins.  Specifically, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium and other completely safe  ingredients such as L-Glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, vinpocetine, Quercetin, and Acetyl L-Carnitine. If you’ve tried to restore or improve your hearing and failed, it makes sense consider this combination of hard-working ingredients. Based upon the research, chances seem good that patients may see an improvement when the Hearing Pill is taken daily according to directions.

What Research Suggests That The Hearing Loss Pill Works?

Makers of the Hearing Loss Pill report that it will improve all functions that relate to hearing loss, but specifically:

1. It optimizes the nerves of the inner ear.

2. It optimizes the brain to better understand “sound.”

3. It stops the harmful molecules that cause hearing loss to worsen.

4. It provides compounds that are essential for proper hearing function.

In addition to the studies presented in the Morning After Pill article, there a numerous others that support the use of The Hearing Loss Pill in many cases of hearing impairment. These include:

1.  Nekrassov & Sitges (2000) in Brain Research  Jun 23;868(2):222-9  suggesting that vinpocetine could be beneficial against aminoglycoside toxicity.

2.  Sitges & Nekrassov  (2004) in Clin Neurophysiolology (2004) Dec;115(12):2711-7.  suggesting that vinpocetine prevents the retro-cochlear alterations and the hearing decline that accompany the epileptic cortical activity.

3. Ahn et al  (2008) Aug 27;19(13):1265-9 suggest that alpha-lipoic acid prevented early-onset hearing impairment in DBA mice.

4.  Takumida & Anniko in Acta Otolaryngologica (2009) Jan;129(1):36-44. where Rebamipide, alpha-lipoic acid, and vitamin C were given orally for at least 8 weeks to 46 elderly patients with age-related hearing loss and hearing levels after treatment were significantly improved at all frequencies.

5.  Yamasoba et al. in Brain Research (1998) Feb 16;784(1-2):82-90. who found that the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) inhibition increased the susceptibility of the cochlea to noise-induced damage and that replenishing GSH, presumably by enhancing availability of cysteine, attenuates noise-induced cochlear damage.

6.  Seidman et al, in the Am J Otololgy (2000) Mar;21(2):161-7.  who found that Acetyl-l-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid reduce age-associated deterioration in auditory sensitivity and improve cochlear function.

7.  Conlon et al. Hear Research (1999) Feb;128(1-2):40-4. These results provide further evidence of the intrinsic role of free radical generation in aminoglycoside ototoxicity, and highlight a potential clinical therapeutic use of alpha-lipoic acid in the management of patients undergoing aminoglycoside treatment.

8. Diao et al (In Chinese) Sheng Li Xue Bao.(2003) Dec 25;55(6):672-6. where the results obtained indicated that noise exposure causes a decrease in serum total antioxidant capacity and an increase in nitric oxide  in cochlea. Alpha-Lipoid acid exerts a protective effect against hearing loss in acoustic trauma through its antioxidant effects.

9.  Scheibe et al Noise Health (2001);3:79-84. concluded that magnesium, as a natural and relatively cheap agent that is practically without side effects, should more often be considered in developing preventive and therapeutic strategies for protection against noise trauma, as it may occur in military and industrial environments.

10. Han & Someya, Exp Gerontology (2013) Oct;48(10):1091-5 have suggested that the identification/discovery of compounds that induce the activation of SIRT3 or glutathione reductase or that increase mitochondrial glutathione levels has potential for maintaining good hearing by mimicking the anti-aging effects of calorie restriction in human inner ear cells.

11. Grondin et al. in Hear Research (2013) Apr;298:93-103 demonstrated the validity of the pulmonary administration of antioxidants and highlighted the different contributions of d-methionine (d-met) and acetyl-l-carnitine (ALCAR) in supporting further investigation into their impact on oxidative stress in the cochlear microenvironment.

12. Coleman et al in Hear Research 2007 Apr;226(1-2):104-13. who studied the use of the pharmacological agents N-acetylcysteine and acetyl-L-carnitine after acoustic trauma to treat cochlear injury.  The study suggests that  it may be possible to obtain a greater therapeutic effect using these agents in combination or at higher doses or for a longer period of time to address the secondary oxidative events occurring 7-10 days after acute noise exposure.

13. Choi et al in Free Radic Research 2011 Oct;45(10):1162-72 demonstrated that the administration of antioxidant drugs extended up to 10 days after noise exposure can effectively treat acute acoustic trauma in chinchillas. This may provide significant and potentially clinically important information about the effective therapeutic window for acute acoustic trauma treatment.

14.  Du et al in Hear Research 2012 Jan;283(1-2):1-13.  suggest that early antioxidant treatment for acoustic trauma not only rescues cochlear hair cells, but also has an impact on central auditory structures.

15. Ikeda et al in Am J Otol.ology 1989 Jan;10(1):11-3.  suggest that vitamin D deficiency is one of the etiologies of Bilateral Sensori-neural hearing loss through calcium metabolism and microcirculation in the cochlea.

16. Ohinata et al  in Hearing Research, Volume 146, Issues 1–2, August 2000, Pages 28–34. report results indicating that Glutathione is a significant factor in limiting noise-induced cochlear damage. This is compatible with the notion that reactive oxygen specie generation plays a role in noise-induced hearing loss and that antioxidant treatment may be an effective prophylactic intervention.

17. Hight et al  in Hear Research 2003 May;179(1-2):21-32. discussed antioxidant treatments as a prophylactic measure against noise-induced hearing loss.

18.  Attias et al in Am J Otolaryngology 1994 Jan-Feb;15(1):26-32. suggested that magnesium was a significant natural agent for the reduction of hearing damages in noise-exposed population.

There seems to be a plethora of peer-reviewed literature supporting the fundamental concepts for the effectiveness of the ingredients in the Hearing Loss Pill.  It will be interesting to see research into how the specific combination of ingredients in the pill actually works in hearing-impaired patients over time.  While there is much evidence that suggesting that it could be a real breakthrough, the jury is still out as to its real benefit.

Should you buy it? 

I would give it some time and see what happens  in the real world of hearing loss!

 www.coalitionforglobalhearinghealth.org