Hearing Loss & Dementia
How Hearing Loss Plays A Role In Overall Cognitive Function

HEARING LOSS & DEMENTIA

How Hearing Loss Plays A Role In Overall Cognitive Function

Linking Hearing Loss to Dementia

Studies have shown that hearing loss may increase the risk of cognitive problems and even dementia.

According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, not only is it affecting more than 48 million Americans, but by the time Americans reach their 70s, two-thirds will experience hearing loss. Treating the loss of hearing more aggressively could help stave off cognitive decline and dementia.**

The most direct link between auditory impairment and memory loss is the brain.

In 2011, Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, conducted a study observing 639 cognitively stable individuals’ mental abilities over the course of 12-18 years. The results indicated that volunteers with normal hearing were much less susceptible to acquiring dementia while those with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss were two, three, and five times more susceptible to the disorder, respectively.* This evidence suggests that by treating the loss of hearing, the risk of dementia can be mitigated.

The most direct link between auditory impairment and memory loss is the brain.

In 2011, Frank Lin, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of otolaryngology and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, conducted a study observing 639 cognitively stable individuals’ mental abilities over the course of 12-18 years. The results indicated that volunteers with normal hearing were much less susceptible to acquiring dementia while those with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss were two, three, and five times more susceptible to the disorder, respectively.* This evidence suggests that by treating hearing loss, the risk of dementia can be mitigated.

The connection between hearing loss & dementia

There is still a lot of mystery as to the exact connection between hearing loss and dementia. However, there are strong theories as to how the former may aggravate the latter.

One theory suggests that when the brain struggles to cope with degraded sounds, it calls on all of its resources to process these sounds. This added “cognitive load” leaves its mark and causes a decrease in overall cognitive functioning. Hearing loss can accelerate atrophy in the cerebrum which is not exclusive to processing sound as it also plays a role in memory.*

Lake Erie Hearing is one of the few audiology centers that offers a simple cognitive screening test that can show if you can benefit from a hearing solution.

Sources

* Gordan, A. (2017, June 13). The Connection Between Hearing Loss & Dementia. Retrieved from https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/blogs/connection-hearing-loss-dementia

** Griffin, K., & Bouton, K. (n.d.). Hearing Loss Linked to Memory Loss, Dementia. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/health/brain-health/info-07-2013/hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia.html