The Surprising Link Between Hearing Loss and Alzheimer’s

No one in life wants to have reduced function, no matter the topic being discussed. Even losing your train of thought can be frustrating. As we all age, various elements of our bodies and health can change, sometimes perhaps for the better (hello, Dad strength?) sometimes for the worse (back pain is no fun).

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However, it’s fair to say that with life aids, support, advanced and developing understanding, and cheaper options out there, management of certain conditions is much better than it used to be. Hearing loss is counted in this category. No one wants to experience it, but it does happen, and having a prepared plan or a helpful inspection to go is important. You can speak to your audiologist to get personalized advice, and if you know what to expect from hearing clinics, you’ll be well on your way.

In this post, we hope to soothe you by discussing the recent research linking hearing loss to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease:

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

While the exact mechanisms are still being researched, there’s growing evidence suggesting a connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including an increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s thought that the brain has to work harder to process sounds when hearing is impaired, potentially diverting resources away from other cognitive functions. This increased cognitive load might contribute to the decline observed in some individuals.

Hearing Aids: A Potential Protective Measure

It’s a common misconception that hearing aids are large, ugly things that make a loud screeching sound. That’s because when most of us were children, we may have seen a grandparent with one of them, and perhaps never one up-close since. That picture is simply not the case anymore, as many hearing aids are so small that they can fit right inside the ear canal where no one can even see them.

They’re also much more effective at distinguishing between different noises, which can give you a better shot at understanding people in a crowded room, not to mention their smart connectivity and audio balancing/tuning functions. Wearing one can feel natural in the space of a week. Addressing hearing loss with hearing aids may help reduce the cognitive load on the brain, potentially preserving cognitive function.

Masking Measures Can Help Fight Tinnitus

Tinnitus, the constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears, can clearly be an extremely frustrating condition to live with. It can be hard to concentrate on anything else even, but there’s a good approach to fight tinnitus with something called masking measures.

These devices create a subtle, soothing sound that can make the ringing less noticeable, and many hearing aids have that capability now. This means thousands of people are finding ways around a frustrating hearing symptom, even in the harsher cases, relieving much of the stress that can come with living with tinnitus. While not directly linked to Alzheimer’s, managing tinnitus can improve overall quality of life and reduce stress, which are beneficial for brain health.

Awareness Is So Much Higher

It used to be that hearing loss was something people didn’t really talk about, and you just had to deal with it on your own. We could imagine what it was like, but few people knew sign language or knew how to communicate with those hard of hearing. Now, thanks to the internet and people being more open about health issues, there’s much more awareness surrounding hearing loss.

People are more likely to seek help, and there are so many resources available to help you find the right solutions. It’s highly encouraging to see so much information out there about what to expect from hearing clinics and how they’re now as common as going to visit your dentist for many people. For that reason, getting help is so much more convenient and less intimidating than it used to be. Early detection and intervention for hearing loss are crucial, especially given the potential link to cognitive health.

With this advice, we hope you can feel a little more confident even if you do experience hearing loss, and understand the importance of addressing it for your overall health.