Support your hearing – Support your brain
Carla Christian
50plus Magazine
Stories of dementia are everywhere these days, and for many, it’s a leading fear around aging. In one area of preventive health, there’s good news: supporting the ability to hear also supports brain health.
As you age, hearing loss can become a common companion. By the time you hit 75, your chances of dealing with hearing loss are nearly one in two.
Losing your hearing can have profound consequences, such as an increased risk of depression and heart issues. As it isn’t just about understanding sounds but also supporting balance, diminished hearing heightens the risk of falling. In fact, hearing loss can touch every part of your life. Conversations become a challenge, and you could misunderstand your doctor’s advice or miss sounds like alarms or doorbells.
The most concerning, however, may be the effect on your brain. Hearing loss is strongly linked to increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Even mild hearing loss doubles dementia risk. Moderate loss triples your risk, and people with
severe hearing impairment are five times more likely to develop dementia.
The cause for this connection isn’t crystal clear yet, but experts are digging into the matter.
One possibility is that a single disease process causes both hearing loss and dementia. Another thought is that keeping your brain engaged and — so when you’re deprived of sound, your brain may atrophy.
Some believe that dealing with faint or indistinct sounds and speech might force your brain to work harder, leaving less brainpower for other functions like problem-solving, memory, and decision-making.
Another culprit might be social isolation. Feeling lonely is now considered as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Losing social connections seems to be a fast track to depression, dementia, and even early death.
One thing is clear, though — treating hearing loss can keep your brain in better shape. A 2023 study from Johns Hopkins found that hearing aids can cut cognitive decline nearly in half in older adults with hearing loss and risk factors for dementia.
Of the nearly 27 million Americans aged 50 and older who deal with hearing loss, only one in seven uses hearing aids. On average, people wait a decade before seeking help. During this time, communication becomes tougher, isolation increases, and health risks multiply.
It isn’t just about missing out on social connections; hearing loss triggers permanent changes in your brain. When your hearing pathways aren’t stimulated, they start to lose their ability to process information and recognize speech.
Hearing loss doesn’t usually mean not hearing at all; for many, it’s more about struggling to understand speech. People around you might seem to be mumbling, and background noise can seem louder than before. Maybe it’s difficult to understand callers on the phone or the soft voices of children.
Background noises like birds chirping or the microwave dinging might vanish without you realizing it. You might also start experiencing ringing in your ears or random clicking or chirping sounds.
Over time, you might find yourself pulling away from social events, family gatherings and conversations. You might even put off medical care because it’s hard to communicate.
The good news is is most of the consequences of hearing loss can be avoided.
Treating hearing loss has never been more effective or accessible. The first step is to see a hearing health professional to assess your hearing. Knowing more about your hearing can guide you toward the right solution — and help you reconnect with the world around you.
Sure, some age-related changes we can’t do much about, but hearing loss isn’t one of them. Taking careof your hearing can keep your brain healthy, and you happy.