As we get older we begin to have trouble hearing clearly and we typically just accept it as a normal part of aging. Maybe we need to ask people to speak up or repeat themselves when they talk. Maybe the volume on our TV keeps going up. We may even notice that we’re becoming forgetful.
Loss of memory is also often regarded as a standard part of aging because the senior population is more prone to Alzheimer’s and dementia than the general population. But what if the two were in some way related? And, better yet, what if there was a way to manage hearing loss and also preserve your memories and mental health?
Hearing loss and mental decline
Mental decline and dementia are not typically connected to hearing loss. But if you look in the appropriate places, you will discover a clear connection: studies reveal that there is a significant risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-like conditions if you also suffer from hearing loss – even at fairly low levels of hearing impairment.
Individuals who cope with hearing loss also frequently deal with mental health problems including anxiety and depression. Your ability to socialize is affected by cognitive decline, mental health problems, and hearing loss which is the common thread.
Why does hearing loss affect cognitive decline?
While there isn’t any solid finding or definitive proof that hearing loss causes cognitive decline and mental health problems, there is some connection and several clues that experts are investigating. They have identified two main scenarios that they think lead to problems: the inability to interact socially and your brain working overtime.
Countless studies show that isolation brings about anxiety and depression. And people aren’t as likely to socialize with others when they cope with hearing loss. Many individuals who suffered from hearing loss find it’s too hard to participate in conversations or can’t hear well enough to enjoy things like going to the movies. Mental health issues can be the result of this path of isolation.
In addition, researchers have found that the brain often has to work harder to make up for the fact that the ears can’t hear clearly. The part of the brain that processes sounds, like voices in a conversation, requires more help from other parts of the brain – specifically, the part of the brain that keeps our memories intact. Cognitive decline will then develop faster than normal as the overworked brain struggles to keep up.
Using hearing aids to prevent mental decline
Hearing aids are our first line of defense against cognitive decline, mental health issues, and dementia. When people use hearing aids to address hearing loss, studies have shown that they were at a decreased risk of dementia and had increased cognitive function.
If more people wore their hearing aids, we might see less instances of mental health problems and cognitive decline. Between 15% and 30% of people who need hearing aids actually use them, which accounts for between 4.5 million and 9 million people. Almost 50 million people cope with dementia according to the World Health Organization estimates. For many people and families, the quality of life will be improved if hearing aids can reduce that number by even a couple million people.
Are you ready to begin hearing better – and remembering things without any issue? Get on the path to better hearing and improved mental health by reaching out to us for a consultation.
References
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/protecting-your-hearing-means-protecting-your-mental-health
