What’s the link between hearing loss and dementia? Brain health and hearing loss have a connection which medical science is starting to understand. It was discovered that even minor neglected hearing impairment increases your risk of developing dementia.
These two seemingly unrelated health conditions may have a pathological link. So, how does hearing loss put you at risk for dementia and how can a hearing test help combat it?
Dementia, what is it?
Dementia is a condition that diminishes memory ability, clear thinking, and socialization skills, as reported by the Mayo Clinic. People often think of Alzheimer’s disease when they hear dementia most likely because it is a prevalent form. About five million people in the US are impacted by this progressive kind of dementia. Precisely how hearing health effects the risk of dementia is finally well understood by scientists.
How hearing works
The ear mechanisms are quite intricate and each one is important in relation to good hearing. Waves of sound go inside the ear canal and are boosted as they travel toward the inner ear. Inside the maze of the inner ear, little hair cells shake in response to the sound waves to send electrical signals that the brain translates.
Over the years these tiny hairs can become permanently damaged from exposure to loud sound. The result is a decrease in the electrical signals to the brain that makes it harder to comprehend sound.
This progressive hearing loss is sometimes considered a normal and inconsequential part of the aging process, but research suggests that’s not the case. The brain tries to decode any signals sent by the ear even if they are jumbled or unclear. The ears can become strained and the brain exhausted from the extra effort to hear and this can eventually lead to a higher risk of developing dementia.
Loss of hearing is a risk factor for lots of diseases that result in:
- Irritability
- Reduction in alertness
- Weak overall health
- Inability to master new tasks
- Depression
- Impaired memory
- Exhaustion
The risk of developing cognitive decline can increase depending on the severity of your hearing loss, too. Even slight hearing loss can double the odds of cognitive decline. Hearing loss that is more severe will bring the risk up by three times and very severe untreated hearing loss can put you at up to a five times higher risk. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University tracked the cognitive skills of more than 2,000 older adults over a six-year period. They found that hearing loss significant enough to hinder conversation was 24 percent more likely to lead to memory and cognitive problems.
Why is a hearing assessment worthwhile?
Not everyone understands how even slight hearing loss impacts their overall health. Most people don’t even realize they have hearing loss because it develops so gradually. The human brain is good at adapting as hearing declines, so it is not so noticeable.
We will be able to properly evaluate your hearing health and monitor any changes as they happen with regular hearing exams.
Reducing the risk with hearing aids
The present hypothesis is that stress on the brain from hearing loss plays a significant part in cognitive decline and different forms of dementia. Based on that one fact, you could conclude that hearing aids decrease that risk. The stress on your brain will be reduced by using a hearing aid to filter out undesirable background noise while boosting sounds you want to hear. With a hearing aid, the brain won’t work so hard to understand the sounds it’s receiving.
There is no rule that says individuals with normal hearing won’t develop dementia. But scientists believe hearing loss speeds up that decline. Having regular hearing tests to detect and manage hearing loss before it gets too serious is key to decreasing that risk.
Contact us today to set up an appointment for a hearing exam if you’re concerned that you may be dealing with hearing loss.