By Dr. Rebecca Younk, Au.D., Audiologist, Outreach Services in Glenwood
Your ability to hear can significantly impact your cognitive health. Imagine the joy of sharing stories with friends, the laughter of grandchildren, or the soothing sounds of nature—these experiences enrich our lives and keep us engaged. However, untreated hearing loss can lead to isolation and cognitive decline, threatening not just our social connections but also our mental sharpness. By understanding this vital link, we can take proactive steps to safeguard our hearing and, in turn, our overall well-being.
Over Three Decades of Research
For more than 30 years, hearing healthcare professionals have been concerned about the association between hearing loss and dementia. As early as 1989, studies were published linking hearing impairment to an increased risk of dementia. In the early 2000s, further research confirmed our concerns. Older adults with hearing loss had a 30-40% rate of accelerated cognitive decline. Individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss were three to five times more likely to develop dementia compared to their peers with normal hearing.
Researchers do not know exactly why hearing loss increases the risk of developing dementia, but they have isolated the reasons into three possible factors.
- Hearing loss leads to social isolation and loneliness, which is associated with a 50 percent increased risk of dementia.
- Hearing loss causes your brain to work harder – taxing areas of thinking and memory.
- Hearing loss causes a reduction in brain volume – although the natural aging process causes brain atrophy, people with impaired hearing experience more rapid rates of reduction.
What can people do with this knowledge?
The first is prevention, which is consistently using hearing protection when exposed to loud sounds. If you need to shout in order to be heard, wear hearing protection. If you notice your ears are ringing after an activity, that noise is too loud and will cause damage to your hearing.
If you already have hearing loss, it is best to seek treatment early to address the issue. A recent study published in July 2023 showed that hearing aids reduced the rate of cognitive decline in older adults, who are at high risk of developing dementia, by 48% over a three-year period. Another study published in 2024 found that adults with hearing loss who regularly used hearing aids had a 24% lower risk of early mortality than those who never wore them.
How do you know if you need to see a hearing care professional?
Hearing loss typically develops slowly, over a matter of years and sometimes decades. This slow change in hearing means many people do not notice an issue until a loved one or colleague points out that they are not hearing well. The first symptom of hearing loss is often an increased difficulty hearing when there is background noise or when someone looks away when they are speaking to you. People with hearing loss will frequently say, “I hear just fine; I just misunderstand what is being said.” These misunderstandings can lead to embarrassment and frustration, and sometimes even withdrawal from social settings.
It is this withdrawal from social settings that we are trying to prevent by encouraging people to protect their hearing from high levels of sound that cause hearing loss. Additionally, if hearing loss has occurred, properly selecting and fitting hearing aid technology addresses the communication needs of patients with hearing loss. Staying connected to loved ones, being active in the community, and maintaining independence is crucial for brain and body health.
If you or your loved one answers “yes” to any of the following questions, I encourage you to schedule a hearing evaluation and consultation with a hearing care professional.
- People seem to mumble more frequently.
- Trouble hearing normal household and environmental sounds (e.g., birds, doorbell, dripping faucet, telephone, alarm clock).
- Trouble understanding conversations when you are in a noisy place, such as a restaurant.
- Trouble understanding speech over the phone.
- You have been told you speak too loudly.
- You have trouble hearing when your back is turned to the speaker.
- You often ask people to repeat themselves.
- Your family complains that you play the radio or TV too loudly.
- Ringing in the ears.
