By W.L. “Hunter” Huntley, III, HAS, BC-HIS –
The month of June is designated as National Safety month. In keeping with this and promoting safety, one simple yet important thing for each of us to do is ensure our hearing is up to par. Impaired hearing can easily create dangerous situations for both the effected person and those around them.
According to Dr. Frank Lin, assistant professor of Otology at John Hopkins University School of Medicine; hearing loss, like heart disease or high blood pressure, if left untreated can lead to serious problems. Loneliness and isolation, problems commonly associated with hearing loss – are among those older people fear the most, says Lin.
A new study by the National Institute on Aging and John Hopkins finds that individuals with hearing loss are much more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Those with severe hearing problems, the study reports, were five times more likely to develop dementia then those with normal hearing. This occurs due to the lack of “proper” stimulation to the auditory portion of the brain that interprets speech. Even mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia. That risk, says Lin, a co-author of the study, appeared to increase once hearing loss began to interfere with the ability to communicate. A prime example would be a noisy restaurant, or anywhere else ambient noise is present.
Hearing aids will not completely restore all of your hearing but individuals can “expect substantial benefits,” says Sergi Kochkin, head of the Better Hearing Institute, which is an industry funded non-profit organization.
Proper hearing can make a huge impact on not only the person hearing them, but everyone that is around that person. Hearing properly can also be related to everyday safety issues; from operating an auto-mobile, or even walking across a busy street. If you, or anyone you know suspects they may be having issues with their hearing, call for a free, no obligation hearing exam today.
Leonardi Hearing Center
239-997-8288