Deafness is common in amyloidosis patients. Patients often attribute their deafness to ageing or traumas/stresses which their ears have been exposed to (working in a noisy environment, etc.)

Deafness seems to be more common in patients with TTR amyloidosis, mainly ‘senile’ aka ‘wild type’. The type of deafness associated with amyloidosis differs from that caused by old age (presbycusis), even when it does occur in elderly patients.  It is not yet completely understood how amyloidosis causes this but it is probably due to damage in the auditory nerves. This deafness, like carpal tunnel syndrome, can occur several years before the illness affects the heart.