There is a Link Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Age-related hearing loss is often thought of as a normal part of growing older, but preventing and treating hearing loss is critical, not only for maintaining hearing, but also more importantly, for brain function.

Over the past decade, there have been more and more evidential conclusions on studies related to hearing loss and cognitive decline. Why are these disorders so closely related? When there is auditory deprivation there is a significant strain on the area of the brain that processes communication. This area of the temporal lobe is called the primary auditory and it not only controls hearing, but also the way language is processed.

Individuals that struggle with hearing often become less social, and therefore their cognitive decline is affected by less interaction and less mental processing. It is also thought that other senses effected like smell and vision loss will exacerbate cognitive issues due to a cause of degeneration in these areas of the brain.

If you get early treatment, which is typically hearing aids, you can slow down the natural progression of hearing loss. Hearing loss is progressive, and it gets much worse with age. Getting treatment early is ideal, but it’s never too late.

Along with a hearing test, your audiologist should offer an in-depth evaluation of your home-life, work-life, and social life. If you are very active and frequent loud events or restaurants regularly, you may need different technology than a person who leads a quieter life in general.

Nearly 6 million Americans have Dementia, and that number is expected to triple by 2050. Experts estimate that a Dementia diagnosis will affect close to 15 million people by mid-century. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Taking care of our health is critical to staving off memory related decline. This includes many factors like regular exercise, socialization, staying mentally active with things like crossword puzzles and reading, eating a nutritious diet, getting adequate sleep, and protecting our hearing. Improving your hearing now, will help stave off future cognitive issues.

Why You Should See an Audiologist
If you are experiencing hearing loss, it’s important to seek out a qualified audiologist, because they are trained to get you the best outcome and resolution for your specific condition. If you’ve noticed that it’s difficult to hear conversations in a noisy atmosphere, or you feel the need to adjust your television volume much higher than before, it’s vital for you to have your hearing checked.

Perhaps you or your loved one keeps asking for people to repeat themselves, or you can’t quite pick up where sounds are coming from; if this is the case, don’t wait until your hearing loss gets any worse, schedule your appointment as soon as you possibly can.

Hearing solutions should be customized to each patient’s individual needs.
With over 21 years of experience providing hearing help to those with hearing loss, Kristin DesErmia, Au.D. is committed to helping people function at their best through better hearing. Coastal Hearing Care offers complete audiometric evaluations by a licensed, certified audiologist. We offer a complete line of state-of-the-art digital hearing instruments which are selected to fit your hearing needs. Our goal is to help you select the best solutions for your hearing loss based on your individual communication needs and lifestyle.

Our promise to you. We promise to provide you with outstanding customer care and state-of-the-art hearing instruments to help you hear better. Satisfaction with your new hearing instruments is our top priority. We will guide you through the important steps to improve your hearing and get you back to your daily life.

For your complimentary consultation, please call 941-229-2122