The Link Between Hearing Loss & Cognitive Function
Untreated Hearing Loss Risks for Patients Throughout Michigan
When hearing loss goes untreated, it increases your risk of developing other physical and mental health conditions, including dementia, depression, and an overall decline in the brain’s cognitive function. Research from Johns Hopkins reveals untreated hearing loss can also be attributed to accidental falls, which stresses the importance of taking control of your hearing health.Moderate hearing loss triples a patient’s risk of developing dementia, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop the condition.
Below, the experts at Hear Michigan Centers discuss the connection between hearing loss and dementia and what you can do today to prevent your risk of developing hearing loss in the future. Our highly qualified clinical teams offer comprehensive hearing care services for patients throughout Michigan.We’re with you each step on your journey towards better hearing. Contact our providers todayto learn more about preventing, addressing, and treating hearing loss.
How Is Hearing Loss & Mental Health Linked?
It’s true that untreated hearing loss can take a toll on your mental health. Some of the ways untreated hearing loss can affect your mental health include:
- Daily communication with friends, co-workers, or loved ones is strained
- Social isolation, bad moods, feeling depressed
- Avoiding recreational activities due to loss of balance and feeling isolated
- Feeling mentally exhausted because your brain must work harder to interpret sound
- Anxiety about missing events, mishearing others, or misunderstanding others
How Does Hearing Loss Affect the Brain?
When your brain processes sound, it helps it stay active. When you have any type or degree of hearing loss, the part of your brain that processes sound starts to deteriorate, which is also known as atrophy. Brain atrophy can cause cognitive decline, making thinking and concentrating more challenging.
The Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss
Recognizing the early signs of hearing loss can help you address it with a proper treatment plan. Consider scheduling an appointment with a hearing care provider if:
- You avoid social settings because you have a hard time understanding others
- You feel frustrated when you’re talking to friends and family because you’re worried you won’t understand them
- You find yourself changing aspects of your social life because you’re frustrated with your inability to hear clearly
- You find yourself turning the volume up on your television or phone
- You avoid talking on the phone
- You hear ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
- You’re sensitive to some sounds
- You feel lonely, even when you’re around others
- You avoid completing simple tasks
Reducing Cognitive Decline With Hearing Aids
A 2023 National Institutes of Health study found that participants with hearing loss and dementia saw an almost 50 percent reduction in their rate of cognitive decline because hearing aids were a part of their treatment plan. However, it’s important to note that you shouldn’t rush to the store to purchase over-the-counter hearing aids as soon as you suspect hearing loss. Patients should schedule a one-on-one consultation with a hearing care professional to complete a comprehensive evaluation, receive an accurate diagnosis, and take the proper course of action. No two patients are the same regarding hearing loss, so it’s important to work with a professional who can develop the right treatment plan for your type and degree of the condition.
Modern hearing aids are comfortable, discreet, andeasily connected to smart devices for an enhanced user experience. Over-the-counter hearing aids might be cheaper, but a professional diagnosis and fitting are the most effective ways to reduce your risks of developing other health conditions linked to hearing loss. Hearing aids and other assistive listening devices are a crucial part of reducing the impact and slowing the progression of dementia. In the meantime, it’s essential to protect your hearing. For some older patients, the damage done in their younger years can’t be reversed. Some age-related declines in auditory ability can’t be helped.
Hearing Loss Causes & Early Symptoms
Unfortunately, hearing loss is something we can’t avoid as we age. However, everything from genetics to loud noise exposure can play a role in hearing loss. Some of the most common causes of hearing loss include the following:
- Exposure to loud sounds
- Tumors of the ear
- Ear infections
- Head injuries
- Genetics
- Hypertension
- Certain medications
The Importance of Address Hearing Problems Early
Scheduling comprehensive hearing evaluations regularly is an important part of maintaining good hearing health. Today, patients can take a basic hearing test online from anywhere they have internet access. However, if you suspect you have hearing loss, you should schedule a one-on-one consultation with a hearing care professional to determine the exact status of your hearing health.
Contact Hear Michigan Centers Today
Hearing experts and researchers have explored the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline throughout the years, giving us a deeper understanding of the importance of addressing the signs of both conditions. With all the professional services you need under one roof, our clinical teams are here to help improve your hearing health with treatment plans tailored to your specific diagnoses and lifestyle needs. Hear Michigan Centers has years of experience serving patients throughout Michigan.Contactus today or schedule an appointmentonline for a one-on-one consultation with our trusted hearing care providers.
