The Link Between Untreated Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline disorders grows ever stronger in the medical community.

A recent study by a research team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health showed that when left untreated, senior adults with severe hearing loss were more likely to develop dementia, a cognitive decline disorder. This was in comparison with users of hearing aids. 

The link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline becomes clearer with each new study, highlighting the risks to your brain’s well-being when you do not care for your ear health. 

Read on as we explore how ignoring hearing loss, intentionally or not, can affect your cognitive function and what you can do about it. 

HOW ARE HEARING LOSS AND COGNITIVE DECLINE RELATED?

Hearing loss is defined by its cause and its location inside the ear. The disorder can be grouped into three main segments, namely:

1) Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL), which occurs when there has been damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve;

2) Conductive hearing loss, which indicates a sound-conduction issue in the middle or outer ear; and

3) Mixed hearing loss is when there is damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve, as well as an obstruction to hearing in the middle or outer ear. 

Cognitive decline, on the other hand, refers to a number of conditions that decrease the brain’s capacity to function optimally. These conditions include age-related cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, as well as neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or Huntington’s disease. 

Untreated hearing loss contributes to cognitive impairment by using resources from the brain to compensate for the diminished sense of hearing, according to the study mentioned above. 

Let’s look at an everyday example. Before hearing loss set in, you may have crossed the street without considering it. But with the presence of hearing loss, your brain misses out on important auditory clues about your surroundings. 

If you compare your brain to a computer, the RAM or memory used to cross the street is now being diverted to make sense of the sounds in the environment instead of being utilized to move the body forward in a safe manner. 

Due to this cognitive load, the risk of falling, tripping, and even accidents dramatically increases.

COGNITIVE FUNCTION, HEARING LOSS AND AGING

As our bodies age, so do our brains. And along with aging comes a host of risk factors to consider.

Cognitive decline affects two out of three Americans at the average age of 70. In a similar age group, 65 to 74 years old, one in three people experience hearing loss. Above the age of 75, the number increases to more than half. 

Based on these statistics, the risk of developing hearing loss and experiencing cognitive decline increases greatly as we age. As you age, the need to care for your ear and brain health becomes more critical. 

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF NOT SEEKING HELP FOR HEARING LOSS?

Hearing loss, unlike the common cold or a headache, can’t simply be pushed aside in the hopes of fixing the issue itself. When left untreated, hearing loss can start affecting everyday life’s essential functions.

Here is a list of risks associated with untreated hearing loss:

Impact on cognitive function. Hearing loss can increase the cognitive load of individuals, as they have to use more of their memory and concentration functions to hear and interpret sounds or speech. This can put a strain on the brain’s functioning and leave other cognitive tasks lacking the necessary focus and concentration. 

Risk of dementia. As mentioned above, the prevalence of untreated hearing loss in dementia patients was higher than that of counterparts who used assistive hearing devices. 

Auditory deprivation due to untreated hearing loss may also lead to atrophy, where the part of your brain responsible for processing sounds gets smaller from lack of use.

Communication and speech impairments. When hearing loss sets in, there is the risk of losing the ability to communicate properly. First, it may be hard to hear what others are saying. Second, the speech patterns of those with hearing loss may be affected over time. This decreases an individual’s communication skills. 

Withdrawing from social activities. With a decrease in communication skills due to hearing loss or frustration at being unable to hear speech and conversations, many hearing-loss sufferers isolate themselves from others. This increases the risk of depression, which may also affect your cognitive health. 

Safety concerns. As your hearing ability declines, your risk of injury increases. Driving, cycling, and even just crossing the street become more dangerous with hearing loss. With hearing loss, you may miss warning sounds otherwise meant to keep you safe. 

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BRAIN HEALTH

To make sure your cognitive function remains optimal, there are a number of tips you can follow:

• Lead a balanced lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a healthy diet.
• Avoid excessive alcohol and smoking.
• Get enough sleep to allow your brain time to rest and restore.
• Engage in mentally stimulating exercises to increase your memory functions.
• Schedule a hearing evaluation to ensure your hearing health does not impact your cognitive function.

SIGNS YOU MAY NEED A HEARING EVALUATION

According to the National Council on Aging, 15% of adults in the US have some form of hearing loss. Alarmingly, a small portion of these people wear hearing aids, while others wait up to 10 years to seek medical attention for their hearing issues. 

It’s never too early to start caring for your hearing health to ensure a better quality of life. 

But how do you know that you have a potential hearing problem? Let’s take a look at these early signs:

• You have trouble understanding what people say to you. 
• You find that you’re increasing the volume on your listening devices more often.
• You experience ear pain or ear ringing (also known as tinnitus).
• You are constantly off balance when walking or standing or feel dizzy for no reason.
• You feel strained in loud social settings as you struggle to process the different sounds.
• Sounds of speech come across as muffled to you.

GET THE HEARING HELP YOU NEED

If you have reason to believe you are suffering from hearing loss, getting early intervention is key to maintaining your current lifestyle.

If left for too long, untreated hearing loss can harm your physical well-being and cognitive ability.

At Hearing Associates of Las Vegas, we offer specialized hearing evaluations done by professional hearing specialists. 

We will help you get back to your daily activities with ease by assisting you in managing your hearing health and, in so doing, your cognitive health. 

Contact us today for an appointment.