EP 21 - Article Of The Week: Hearing Loss in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

February 19, 2026

🎙️ We’re back with the twenty first episode of Parkinson Weekly, hosted by Prof. Bas Bloem.In this episode, Bas explores a surprising and often overlooked question: is hearing loss part of the Parkinson’s disease phenotype?Discussing a 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Movement Disorders, he highlights compelling evidence that hearing impairment is common in Parkinson’s — affecting nearly 80% of patients across pooled studies. High-frequency hearing loss was particularly prevalent, and abnormalities in central auditory processing suggest this is not simply age-related decline, but potentially linked to Parkinson’s-specific brain changes.Bas reflects on why this matters clinically, including the association between hearing loss, cognitive decline, and social isolation. The key message: hearing impairment is common, under-recognised, and should not be dismissed as “just ageing.”An important episode that broadens our understanding of the non-motor and sensory features of Parkinson’s disease.👉 You can read the full article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41618507/And don't forget, you can listen here:Have a question you’d like Bas to answer in a future episode? Email us at parkinsonweekly@gmail.com – we’d love to hear from you.