What did you say?

The regular use of pain killers can lead to hearing loss in men.

For aspirin, regular users under 50 and those aged 50-59 years were 33% more likely to have hearing loss than were nonregular users, but there was no association among men aged 60 years and older. For NSAIDs, regular users aged under 50 were 61% more likely, those aged 50-59 were 32% more likely, and those aged 60 and older were 16% more likely to develop hearing loss than nonregular users of NSAIDs. For acetaminophen, regular users aged under 50 were 99% more likely, regular users aged 50-59 were 38% more likely, and those aged 60 and older were 16% more likely to have hearing loss than nonregular users of acetaminophen.

Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen were all found to increase the chance of hearing loss among regular users.

Age does seem to offer some protection against the effects, however as those over 60 years old were at less risk than those under 59 years of age.

That 99% figure for users of acetaminophen under 50 years of age should be a huge red flag.

One thing not mentioned in the article, however, is the careers of the men involved. I'm sure the doctors running the study considered that in their findings. After all, a guy who's been working around heavy machinery for thirty years or so is likely to A) experience some hearing loss and B) have need of the daily use of one of those pain killers just to get to work.

This is not the kind of thing I like to see especially with my bad back, knees, and assorted aches and pains. Not to mention the forthcoming tooth extractions. Then again, I turned 60 last September.

(h/t to Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds and FuturePundit, Randall Parker.)