Hearing plays a pivotal role in keeping you connected to what you love. Those important connections also include the brain.
With aging, some level of cognitive decline is inevitable — from forgetting details, struggling with problem-solving, and feeling more frequently overwhelmed by decision-making, to having difficulty concentrating or losing a sense of organization and direction.
It might be hard to stop the progression of cognitive decline, but according to two studies outlined in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, better hearing has demonstrated potential to slow it down.
Most people don’t realize that hearing is a team effort involving the ears and the brain. Both of your ears work together to effectively relay sound to the brain, which not only locates the origins of sounds but also helps:
With hearing loss, however, the brain has to work harder to process sound. That extra effort might pull brainpower from other important functions, such as thinking, coordinating, remembering and being alert. It can also feel exhausting.
A growing body of public-health research involving older adults further links hearing loss to serious issues that can affect your quality of life, including a higher risk of dementia, earlier cognitive decline, and a faster rate of brain atrophy or shrinkage.
The good news? Better hearing health offers benefits even beyond improved communication. Recent studies in the last few years link hearing aid use to reduced risk of dementia or even depression, a condition that also can affect the ability to think. One investigation associated hearing aid use with a significantly slower rate of cognitive decline.
How Do I Know if I Need Hearing Help?
Answering “yes” on one or more of the below questions could mean hearing loss. Catching problems early with a hearing evaluation can go a long way toward keeping you healthy and connected to the sounds — and the people — you love.
Improved hearing health supports communication, connection and total wellness. If you’re having hearing difficulties or it’s been a while since your last checkup, don’t wait. Support your hearing and brain health by calling 410-695-6246 and scheduling a hearing consultation today.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. “Longitudinal Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Cognitive Function in Older Americans.”
https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.15363
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. “Can Hearing Aids Delay Time to Diagnosis of Dementia, Depression, or Falls in Older Adults?”
https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jgs.16109
Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Hearing Loss Accelerates Brain Function Decline in Older Adults.”
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_accelerates_brain_function_decline_in_older_adults
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