1. Gradual increase in sleep medication use over 30 years linked to worse hearing later in life.
2. Study analyzed data from 3,102 adults, examining their medication use and hearing function.
3. Participants were categorized as nonusers, increasing users, and continuous users based on medication use.
4. Increasing use of sleep medications associated with higher pure-tone average scores for worse hearing.
5. The study controlled for demographic, lifestyle, and cardiovascular factors.
6. Mean age of participants at baseline was 50.7 years, with 59% being female.
7. Medication use was self-reported from the previous 4 weeks at each visit.

Source: Sleep