It’s a good thing this blog is written and not verbal or, evidently, many of you would never hear what I have to say. Though come to think about it, that might not be such a bad thing. Hearing, one of man’s five senses, tends to become problematic as we age. A loss of hearing is not unusual, to some degree, as we stumble into our golden years. For some, it is a real medical condition, for others it is nothing more than a disinterest in what the world has to say. But then it turns out for many it’s because they’ve tuned into the benefits that modern day medicine can bring to their life. Many older men are exchanging their sense of hearing for the sense of touch. If you find yourself asking others to speak up more and more often these days, it may be due to those little blue pills you’ve been popping to get something else up.

And yup, it smells like science to me.

According to a study published in Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, there is an association between hearing loss and the use of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. ”It appears from these findings that the current government warning regarding hearing loss and the use of PDE-5i medications is warranted,” said study author Gerald McGwin, Ph.D., a professor of epidemiology in the UAB School of Public Health. “Though there are limitations to this study, it is prudent that patients using these medications be warned about the signs and symptoms of hearing impairment and be encouraged to seek immediate medical attention to potentially forestall permanent damage.”

And you thought a raging hard-on that won’t go away was the only side effect to be concerned of.

McGwin examined data on 11,525 men over 40 years of age. He found that those who reported use of the little blue pill were twice as likely to also report hearing loss as were men who had not used the drug. McGwin said the relationship was strongest for men who used Viagra. Those using Cialis or Levitra to help them get up for the task showed an elevated but not statistically significant increase in hearing loss.

The study, the first to look at risks of long-term use of ED drugs, found that men who take Viagra are twice as likely to experience hearing loss. The experts believe the reason for this increase in hearing loss is due to the drug’s ability to increase blood flow. Originally developed to increase blood flow to and through the heart, then to increase blood flow to the penis, Viagra also increases blood flow throughout the body. It doesn’t selectively increase blood flow in certain parts of the body and subsequently may also increase blood flow to the ears, which may actually damage parts of the auditory system. But then as long as you don’t lose your sense of taste, who really cares?

Hearing loss is a quality of life issue, just like a healthy love life. Health professionals recommend those who consider taking Viagra talk to their doctor to weigh the pros and cons, and balancing the cons of hearing loss against a less active and fulfilling love life. If you don’t like what your doctor recommends, pop another blue pill and act like you can’t hear him. And keep in mind that a sudden inability to hear when your boy du jour asks for taxi money ain’t necessarily a bad thing either.