Smoking could make you DEAF: The habit increases the risk of hearing loss by 60%, study finds

Scientists today discovered adults plagued by the bad habit are up to 60 per cent more likely to suffer hearing loss.

However, their risk of going deaf or losing their ability to hear clearly, is slashed when smokers give up cigarettes.

The Japanese findings, derived from data of more than 50,000 people, adds to the growing list of known dangers of smoking.

Evidence already highlights that cigarettes can damage the lungs and heart, and lead to several forms of cancer.

Links between smoking and hearing loss have been touted in recent years amid a wave of studies finding similar results.

But research, including the new National Centre for Global Health and Medicine in Japan study, has yet to uncover why.

Researchers made the conclusion using data from the participants.

They analysed the annual health check-ups of all the volunteers, which included hearing tests and lifestyle questionnaires.