Share:

As an audiologist, I am interested in the results of recent studies that indicate a connection between hearing loss and other major health problems, including a decrease in cognitive function in older persons. I have suspected this with my audiology patients and I saw this with my own mother. According to the Better Hearing Institute, “Addressing hearing loss helps women stay physically, cognitively and socially active… Research shows that hearing loss is frequently associated with other physical, mental and emotional health conditions, and that women who address their hearing loss often experience a better quality of life.”

It is reported that in the United States women live longer than men, 81 years on average for women versus 76 for men, and recent studies reveal a disturbing development. Hearing loss is a hidden disability and many times it is not obvious to others or to the person who has it. The onset of hearing loss is not always noticed and usually progresses slowly over time. Little by little the sounds of the world and the speech of loved ones and friends become difficult to differentiate and understand. There is a tendency to believe that others are not speaking clearly or are speaking in a soft voice. As hearing worsens, the hearing-impaired individual is likely to develop feelings of depression and of being isolated socially. She may gradually stop going to meetings, the theater, movies, places of worship, parties or out to restaurants with friends or family, because she is unable to hear well in these settings.

Several recent studies have looked at the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive function. One study, conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging, found that seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those with normal hearing. The study also found that the worse the hearing, the greater the likelihood of developing dementia. It suggests that the link between hearing loss and dementia may be the result of years struggling to decipher sounds. The studies suggest that this struggle may “overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia.” Hearing loss, in turn, can lead individuals to become “more socially isolated, a known risk factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders.” Studies have also shown that a high percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease have hearing loss than in regular population, but are less likely to receive hearing help due to overlapping symptoms.

Hearing-impaired individual were shown to actually lose more than an additional cubic centimeter of brain matter each year compared with those with normal hearing in a sub-study. Those whose hearing was impaired at the start of the study showed accelerated rates of deterioration of the brain compared to those with normal hearing. The area of the brain where the shrinkage was located is that area responsible for processing speech.

Hearing loss has been linked to other health concerns such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Low-frequency hearing loss has been shown to have a greater occurrence in older women than in men and has been associated with known cardiovascular risk factors.

In 2013, Brigham and Women’s Hospital indicated obesity to be related to hearing loss in women. A “higher body mass index (BMI) and larger waist circumference are each associated with higher risk of hearing loss, while a higher level of physical activity is associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women.” The most common form of physical activity reported among the women in the study was walking. The study showed that walking a minimum of 2 hours per week was associated with a 15 percent lower incidence of hearing loss in women.

While hearing loss does not have to be an inevitable part of aging, when hearing loss has been determined to be permanent, there is hearing help. Auditory deprivation, even a mild hearing loss, can impact cognitive function because of the effort expended in trying to hear. Hearing aid technology is constantly improving and is increasingly helpful for people to get back into social situations. Accessories such as Bluetooth and FM devices can supplement hearing aids for better speech understanding, especially in noise or group situations. Use of hearing aids greatly improved my mother’s social interaction and, to a lesser extent, short-term memory while in the grips of dementia. Family members of our patients frequently report noticeable improvement in their elderly parents’ memory and cognition skills with use of appropriate amplification. Improved auditory stimulation has been shown to reactivate areas of the brain, if only temporarily.

Hearing aids are not the answer for everyone with hearing impairment. Assistive devices can provide better hearing in specific situations. There are devices for the television and the telephone and one-on-one communication. Remote microphones that can help improve speech understanding in noise, a major obstacle for older individuals. Remote microphones can facilitate tuning in to the conversation for the individual with cognitive issues. Use of hearing loop systems are helpful in bringing sound directly to the ears without background interference. These can be individual or whole-room devices, commonly used in churches and theaters. For some hearing-impaired individuals implantable hearing aids have become an option. They do not require batteries and they do not have to be removed when sleeping or bathing. There are also rechargeable hearing aids, which removes the necessity for changing batteries, especially for those with memory issues.

Healthy living has been shown to help prevent major health issues, including hearing loss. Healthy hearing helps people remain socially and cognitively connected. So, hearing checks should be considered a regular part of preventive healthcare. 

tracking