Hearing Loss and Dementia

Hearing loss was seen for a long time as something which only affected the ears.

But a growing body of research has associated the disorder with several long-term illnesses, including dementia.

Dementia is a neurological condition that affects an individual’s thoughts, memory, attitudes, feelings, and mood. Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent type of dementia and is one of the most common causes of death for older adults in this country. 

Hearing Loss Overview

Here are some of the signs that people with dementia might exhibit:

  • Memory Loss

    People with dementia may forget about recent events and often miss appointments. They might start struggling to remember personal information, such as a telephone number or an address they've long remembered.

  • Language Problems

    It won't be easy for the person with dementia to express themselves with their chosen words. They can find it hard to understand the terms of other people, which makes communication difficult.

  • Personality Switch

    Changes of personality and attitude go hand and hand with dementia, and families sometimes worry that their loved ones have switched personalities entirely as the disease progresses.

  • Trouble Performing Routine Tasks

    Those with dementia can find it difficult to perform everyday activities as the disease progresses, including driving a car, showering, and getting dressed. Since brain cells are unable to communicate, these simple tasks become complicated to perform. People with dementia frequently have to transfer to a nursing home or support center to get support for their basic needs.

Hearing impairment and dementia symptoms are similar – not answering questions or responding inappropriately, or failing to understand sounds, including conversation. Doctors can also misdiagnose hearing loss as dementia: people may be treated for a condition they don't have, but their hearing loss remains untreated.

As it is such an adverse condition, any way we can reduce our chances of getting dementia deserves our attention. 

How does hearing loss lead to dementia?

The connection of hearing loss to dementia is indirect, but the root cause is a failure to grasp others' words during a conversation. This can have multiple effects on the brain, as follows:

  • Cognitive Load

    When you have hearing loss, the brain needs to work even harder to perceive the sounds and interactions around you. This exhausts mental energy, which is otherwise used for other cognitive tasks like memory and decision-making.

  • Social Isolation

    Several reports are showing a clear correlation between feeling isolated and developing dementia. When you have hearing difficulties, it isn't straightforward to engage in conversations or to communicate socially with friends, family, and colleagues. This can make some stop trying to see other people, and they may withdraw into their homes, denying themselves the crucial mental stimulation that social communication provides.

  • Brain Atrophy

    Your ears no longer pick up as many sounds when you have impaired hearing, meaning the auditory nerve sends fewer sound signals to your brain. Because there is less sound to process, the portion of the brain responsible for sound processing begins to shrink, and if that happens, it won't regenerate again. This brain atrophy also means fewer cognitive resources are available when the individual finally decides to treat their hearing.

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  • Cognitive Load

    When you have hearing loss, the brain needs to work even harder to perceive the sounds and interactions around you. This exhausts mental energy, which is otherwise used for other cognitive tasks like memory and decision-making.

  • Social Isolation

    Several reports are showing a clear correlation between feeling isolated and developing dementia. When you have hearing difficulties, it isn't straightforward to engage in conversations or to communicate socially with friends, family, and colleagues. This can make some stop trying to see other people, and they may withdraw into their homes, denying themselves the crucial mental stimulation that social communication provides.

  • Brain Atrophy

    Your ears no longer pick up as many sounds when you have impaired hearing, meaning the auditory nerve sends fewer sound signals to your brain. Because there is less sound to process, the portion of the brain responsible for sound processing begins to shrink, and if that happens, it won't regenerate again. This brain atrophy also means fewer cognitive resources are available when the individual finally decides to treat their hearing.

How can I avoid dementia?

Recent studies in France and the UK have found that those who used hearing aids were able to mitigate their risk of developing dementia. The French study also found that people with hearing loss who used hearing aids could remain physically independent at a similar level to their hearing peers. 

Treating hearing loss promotes a healthy, engaged lifestyle. With the ability to socially interact and fully participate in your favorite activities, keeping the brain mentally fit can help you live a long and healthy life. 

As you stimulate the brain through social interaction, you will lower the risk of brain atrophy and are less likely to experience cognitive fatigue. If you have hearing loss, having it treated can go a long way toward warding off the risk of dementia as you grow older.

It’s never too late to treat your hearing loss. Contact us today to set up a hearing evaluation.

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