Hey, transfeminine folks! I had a convo with my (very trans-friendly) audiologist, and she asked an interesting question based on some anecdotal observations:
Have any of you noticed a correlation between feminizing HRT and hearing loss?
I'm not a good example, as I had hearing loss long before I started HRT in November 2020, but she's consulted with other audiologists who've noticed a similar trend. This may be a fluke, or confirmation bias, or related to something completely unrelated to HRT, e.g. transfems also tend to listen to really loud noisecore hyperpop or whatever, but I said I'd reach out to get some more anecdotal information. 😊 Thanks!
medical, HRT, hearing loss
@TamsinSays Reports from two people I know (shared with their permission):
One reports no change in hearing. Several years of feminizing HRT now.
The other has experienced a significant increase in earwax production, leading to regular issues with clogged ears that significantly impair hearing, requiring professional ear cleaning to restore hearing. No permanent hearing issues. Likewise, several years of feminizing HRT now - they report that "earwax so bad it needs to get cleaned out" has only started happening since starting HRT, insofar they can remember.
