Cognitive decline and hearing loss, what’s the connection? Medical science has connected the dots between brain health and hearing loss. It was discovered that even mild neglected hearing loss raises your risk of developing dementia.
Experts believe that there may be a pathological link between these two seemingly unrelated health problems. So, how does loss of hearing put you at risk for dementia and how can a hearing test help combat it?
Dementia, what is it?
Dementia is a condition that reduces memory ability, clear thinking, and socialization skills, as reported by the Mayo Clinic. Alzheimer’s is a common form of cognitive decline most people think of when they hear the word dementia. Around five million people in the US are affected by this progressive type of dementia. Exactly how hearing health effects the danger of dementia is finally well understood by scientists.
How hearing works
In terms of good hearing, every part of the complex ear component matters. Waves of sound go into the ear canal and are boosted as they move toward the inner ear. Electrical signals are sent to the brain for decoding by tiny little hairs in the inner ear that vibrate in response to sound waves.
Over the years these little hairs can become permanently damaged from exposure to loud sound. Comprehension of sound becomes a lot more difficult because of the reduction of electrical signals to the brain.
This gradual hearing loss is sometimes regarded as a normal and insignificant part of the aging process, but research shows that’s not accurate. The brain attempts to decode any signals sent by the ear even if they are jumbled or unclear. The ears can become strained and the brain fatigued from the extra effort to hear and this can ultimately lead to a higher chance of developing dementia.
Loss of hearing is a risk factor for many diseases that result in:
- Irritability
- Reduction in alertness
- Trouble learning new skills
- Exhaustion
- Depression
- Overall diminished health
- Memory impairment
And the more significant your hearing loss the higher your risk of dementia. Even slight hearing loss can double the danger of cognitive decline. More significant hearing loss means three times the risk and a person with extreme, neglected loss of hearing has up to five times the odds of developing dementia. The cognitive skills of over 2,000 older adults were studied by Johns Hopkins University over six years. Memory and cognitive problems are 24 percent more likely in individuals who have hearing loss significant enough to disrupt conversation, according to this research.
Why is a hearing test worthwhile?
Not everybody understands how even a little hearing loss affects their overall health. Most people don’t even know they have hearing loss because it develops so slowly. As hearing declines, the human brain adapts gradually so it makes it less noticeable.
Scheduling routine thorough assessments gives you and your hearing specialist the ability to effectively evaluate hearing health and track any decline as it happens.
Decreasing the risk with hearing aids
The present hypothesis is that strain on the brain from hearing loss plays a significant part in cognitive decline and different types of dementia. Based on that one fact, you could conclude that hearing aids reduce that risk. A hearing assistance device amplifies sound while filtering out background noise that interferes with your hearing and relieves the strain on your brain. The sounds that you’re hearing will come through without as much effort.
There is no rule that says people who have normal hearing won’t end up with dementia. What science believes is that hearing loss quickens the decline in the brain, increasing the risk of cognitive problems. Having regular hearing exams to detect and treat hearing loss before it gets too serious is key to reducing that risk.
If you’re worried that you might be dealing with hearing loss, call us today to schedule your hearing assessment.
