Research shows that treating hearing loss improves brain health in older adults at risk of dementia.
We are all eagerly waiting for the day when researchers discover a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia. The progress is promising, but in the meantime, taking care of your hearing can have positive impacts on your brain health.
The Facts on Dementia and Hearing Health
The ACHIEVE Study, published in the Lancet in July 2023 by co-principal investigators Frank Lin and Josef Coresh, is one of the most significant inquiries into the relationship between hearing health and dementia in recent years.
The main finding of the study demonstrated that in older adults at increased risk for cognitive decline, hearing intervention slowed down loss of thinking and memory abilities by 48% over 3 years.1
That means that identifying and treating any hearing loss is a key factor in reducing the risk of cognitive decline related to dementia. A comprehensive hearing evaluation by an audiologist is the first step toward understanding your hearing health.
The Common Signs of Hearing Loss
Some people wonder how to tell the difference between typical hearing and early signs of hearing loss. A baseline hearing screening is beneficial for everyone over the age of 50, but if you have any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with Associated Audiologists:
- Problems understanding speech in noisy environments like restaurants or parties.
- Family and friends often need to repeat themselves before you can understand them.
- Conversations feel frustrating or difficult.
- It feels like people are always mumbling or not speaking clearly.
- You need to see the speaker’s face for context clues when listening to someone.
- Others in your household say your TV or radio is too loud.
- You avoid social situations because it’s hard to hear.
The Most Common Signs of Dementia
It can also be hard to tell the difference between normal aspects of aging and signs of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association has identified these 10 signs of dementia:2
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
- Challenges in planning or solving problems.
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks.
- Confusion with time or place.
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
- New problems with words in speaking or writing.
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace your steps.
- Decreased or poor judgment.
- Withdrawal from work or social activities.
- Changes in mood and personality.
If you notice any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
How Hearing Aids Can Help With Dementia
In recent years, several studies have suggested a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline, or dementia. If your hearing evaluation shows that you have hearing loss, your audiologist may recommend using hearing aids in one or both ears.
Using hearing aids to manage hearing loss can help reduce frustration and lower the risk of cognitive decline. The American Academy of Audiology explains it this way:
“Recent research indicates that for people at greater risk of developing dementia, using appropriately fitted hearing aids reduces the risk of cognitive decline as compared to people who are high-risk and who did not use hearing aids in the same 3-year period (Lin et al., 2023). Continued research in this area is ongoing, but it is possible that treating hearing loss can have a positive impact on the risk for dementia and possibly on the rate of cognitive decline, particularly for at-risk populations.
Properly fitted hearing aids are known to reduce listening effort, allowing for more cognitive resources to be available for other brain tasks. Hearing aids can also re-stimulate areas of the brain that have been neglected due to hearing loss. Lastly, hearing aids are known to improve social communication, which may prevent or delay dementia. If someone suspects they have hearing loss, it is recommended to have a hearing evaluation and discuss treatment options with an audiologist.”3
First Visit Expectations With Associated Audiologists
It’s helpful to know what to expect when you’re preparing for your first visit to an audiologist. Our clinic teams want to make your visit as easy and pleasant as possible for you.
Before Your Visit with Associated Audiologists
We will send you some paperwork by email to give your audiologist the information they need to provide you with the best possible care. If you prefer to fill out the paperwork by hand, you can arrive about 15 minutes early for your appointment and take care of it then.
When You Arrive at Associated Audiologists
Associated Audiologists’ front desk team will greet you and get you checked in. They will make a copy of your driver’s license or other ID as well as your insurance card. They will give you any paperwork that hasn’t been updated yet.
When You Meet Your Audiologist
They will take you to an exam room for your hearing tests. You and your audiologist will talk about your hearing concerns, health history, and any other relevant information.
During The Hearing Test
The audiologist will take a look at your ear canals, evaluate the movements of the eardrums, and examine your auditory pathway (the connections between your ears and your brain) to learn the origin of your symptoms.
Associated Audiologists uses state-of-the-art diagnostic testing equipment. The results of the exam are displayed as an audiogram, which basically maps your hearing loss, showing where your hearing needs the most help.
If your hearing test shows that you have a hearing loss, the audiologist will use the information from the audiogram to recommend the best hearing aid technology for your type and degree of hearing loss. Remember, hearing loss is very individual. No two people have exactly the same hearing loss, so what might work best for a spouse or friend may not work best for you.
Other important issues to discuss with your audiologist include cost and insurance benefits, if you have them. Before you go, you will check out at the front desk and find out when you need to come back for a follow-up visit.
Auditory Training For Brain Health
One other option your audiologist may discuss with you is an auditory training program, such as the Lace AI Pro app. Lace AI Pro is an innovative auditory training program designed to help you improve your hearing from the comfort of your home using your desktop computer or smartphone/tablet.
Hearing is more than just how your ears detect the sound. It’s also important how your brain processes the sound it hears. And Lace AI Pro is a clinically proven way to help you sharpen those listening skills in just 15 minutes a day.
Through one quick and fun daily lesson, you can see benefits like:
- Improved understanding in noisy environments.
- Better speech comprehension.
- Stronger listening abilities.
- More confidence in conversations.
Any of our audiologists across all eight Associated Audiologists clinic locations can help you get connected with Lace AI Pro on your phone or computer.
Take a step toward better health today!
Schedule an appointment with our team of Audiologists
1 https://achievestudy.org/key-findings
2 https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/10_signs
3 https://www.audiology.org/consumers-and-patients/hearing-and-balance/dementia-and-hearing-loss/
