Dr. Ana
Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Principal
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is produced in several areas of the brain, and released by the hypothalamus. Among dopamine’s many functions in the body, it is linked to the brain’s system of motivation and reward, and can help regulate mood, sleep and cognition. It is also involved in maintaining your hearing.
Low Dopamine Levels Lead To Disease
Decreases in dopamine levels in the body have been linked to Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia, and new research is now looking at the link between dopamine levels in the body and hearing health.
Dopamine Maintains Healthy Hearing
In a study published in 2006 in the Journal of Neuroscience, French researchers found that dopamine is important in maintaining healthy auditory nerve neurons, which are responsible for transporting sound from the ears to the brain. Decreased dopamine levels could affect these neurons, impeding transmission of sound from the ear to the brain, and causing sensorineural hearing loss.
New Research On Dopamine And Hearing Health
Researchers from Washington State University and the National Institute of Health are taking on new research in this area. They suspect that dopamine affects the way we hear particular sounds and voices, and they will be studying how dopamine affects auditory processing from brain cells to neural circuits.
Maintain YOUR Hearing Health
The best way to maintain your hearing health is to protect your hearing from loud noises, maintain healthy eating and exercise habits, and be sure to visit an audiologist regularly to get your hearing checked and address any changes to your hearing early on.
Popular Blogs

Apr 28, 2025
Dr. Ana
Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Principal
Do You Think You’re Too Young for Hearing Loss?

Apr 15, 2025
Dr. Ana
Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Principal
The Best Hearing Aids in 2025: Insights From a Doctor of Audiology

Jan 23, 2025
Dr. Ana
Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Principal
What’s the Difference Between Apple AirPods Pro 2 and Prescription Hearing Aids?

Jan 8, 2025
Dr. Ana
Anzola, CCC-A, FAAA, ABA Principal
I Think I Ruptured My Eardrum | What Can I Do About It?