Do Hearing Aids Reverse Cognitive Decline
Dr. Curhans research didnt get a clear answer to this question. Among volunteers with severe hearing loss, those who wore hearing aids had a slightly lower risk of subsequent subjective cognitive decline than those who didnt. But the effect was too small to be statistically significant.
Because they keep you connected withothers, hearing aids can help preventsocial isolation.
She would like to see hearing aids and cognitive decline get a hard look. There isnt much evidence over long periods of time and what we have isnt conclusive, she notes. Several studies have found no relation between hearing aid use and cognitive function decline, while others have been suggestive of a possible association, she told Healthy Hearing. This relation merits further study.
One recent and very large observational study did shed more light on this issue, finding that hearing aids appeared to delay the onset of cognitive impairment and dementia, along with depression and falls that cause injuries. However, it was not a randomized controlled trial, so the results could have been for other reasons .
As well, one large 2018 study analyzed results from more than 2,000 Americans age 50 and up who took word recall tests every two years for up to 18 years. Among those who acquired hearing aids along the way, the evidence suggested that the aids slowed the rate they lost memory of words.
His answer, Do they do it from the drawer?
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Hearing Loss And Social Isolation
The third link between hearing loss and Alzheimers is social isolation. A study by The National Council on the Aging of 2,300 hearing impaired adults found that people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to experience loneliness, worry, depression, anxiety, and paranoiaand are less likely to join organized and casual social activities. When a person withdraws from life, their risk for dementia intensifies. In short, the less we stimulate our brains by interacting with other people, places, and thingsand the less we use our brains to hear and listenthe more quickly our brains decline, putting us at greater risk for dementia.
Untreated Hearing Loss Linked To Dementia
Nearly 27 million Americans age 50 and older have hearing loss, however studies show that only one in seven uses a hearing aid. Those with hearing loss wait, on average, 7-10 years before seeking help for their hearing loss. During that time, overall communication becomes more difficult, and the risk for social isolation and comorbid health conditions increase. Recent research from Johns Hopkins suggests that untreated hearing loss is linked with increased difficulty walking, falls and even dementia.
Dr. Lin, a leading researcher from Johns Hopkins says Brain scans show us that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy in the brain, Lin says. Hearing loss also contributes to social isolation. You may not want to be with people as much, and when you are you may not engage in conversation as much. These factors may contribute to dementia.
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Hearing Aids Now Available Over The Counter May Address Hearing Loss And Help Prevent Cognitive Decline
Hearing aids are now available over the counter without a prescription, a potential game changer for hearing and brain health.
The greater availability of hearing aids could improve the lives of those with untreated mild to moderate hearing loss and also mitigate the risk of dementia for millions of people in the United States.
Dementia is one of the biggest health obstacles to aging well. It is irreversible, but we can reduce our risk of getting it. One important, and historically underappreciated, way of preventing it is addressing hearing loss. By taking care of our hearing, we can also take care of our brains.
More than 50 million people were living with dementia worldwide in 2019. This number is expected to grow with an aging population: More than 130 million people are forecast to be living with dementia in 2050.
Hearing loss in middle age ages 45 to 65 is the most significant risk factor for dementia, accounting for more than 8 percent of all dementia cases, research suggests. A 2020 Lancet report calculated that hearing loss approximately doubles the risk of dementia, akin to the increased risk caused by a traumatic brain injury. In addition, because hearing ability exists on a continuum, even subclinical hearing loss can mean a greater risk for dementia.
Impacts Of Untreated Hearing Loss
Many people are aware theyre suffering from hearing loss, but find it difficult to get help. Those who have been diagnosed with hearing loss wait, on average, seven years before seeking treatment. The reasons for waiting on help vary some are frustrated by hearing loss, believing it to be a sign of aging. Others think their condition isnt that severe or may not even realize they have hearing problems.
Unfortunately, allowing hearing loss to remain untreated can lead to some serious consequences. The most recent studies highlight the social, psychological, cognitive and health effects of untreated hearing loss. These effects can vary as well, but all have serious impacts on your quality of life.
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Misdiagnosis And Further Links
Hearing loss can sometimes be misdiagnosed as dementia. People with dementia can have difficulty communicating with others, including finding the right words, or signs, for what they want to say. They may have difficulty processing what theyve heard, particularly if there are distractions. According to some researchers, this difficulty in processing information can be one of the first signs of cognitive impairment.
We also know that hearing loss can speed up the onset of dementia, or make the symptoms of dementia appear worse, and dementia can heighten the impact of hearing loss.
Hearing Aid Myths That Hold You Back
Can hearing aids reduce these risks? Lin hopes to find out in a new study, still in the planning stages. These studies have never been done before, he notes. What we do know is that theres no downside to using hearing aids. They help most people who try them. And in those people, they can make all the difference in the worldallowing people to reengage with friends and family and to be more involved again.
Although nearly 27 million Americans age 50 and older have hearing loss, only one in seven uses a hearing aid. If you think your hearing has diminished, its worth making an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing check, Lin says. If you have hearing loss, dont let the following myths keep you from getting help.
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The Presentation Of Age
Age-related hearing loss , also known as presbycusis, accounts for the largest percentage of hearing loss cases around the world and presents as a gradual decrease in hearing ability. The outer hair cells and other sensory cells in the cochlea are progressively damaged and unable to regenerate . The result is the impaired encoding of sound, decreased precision, and a distorted auditory signal sent to the brain. This form of hearing loss commonly leads to decreased detection of the higher frequency sounds of speech before lower frequency sounds. The result is reduced ability to hear high-frequency consonants , the parts of speech that provide crispness and clarity. In turn, many with ARHL do not necessarily report difficulty with volume of speech but instead indicate speech sounds muddled or garbled, especially when in the presence of background noise. For everyday function, this may lead to difficulty communicating or interacting with others depending on the listening environment. Those with ARHL may have difficulty hearing or understanding what others are saying in a crowded or noisy setting, such as a restaurant. They may also have difficulty hearing and understanding the television, on the phone, when someone speaks from another room or with their back turned.
As Our Hearing Declines Our Brain Works Harder To Hear
When we start losing certain sounds, our ability to process and organize information becomes that much harder. Our brain has to work harder. This once seemingly automatic process suddenly becomes exhausting.
Lets put it this way: Have you ever found yourself in a social situation, such as at a large gathering or a busy restaurant environment, and had difficulty hearing?
These situations can be particularly difficult because there are multiple conversations happening simultaneously, theres often constant background noises coming from all directions, and you typically need to be extra alert in order to follow whats happening and thats true even if you have healthy hearing!
For those folks who are experiencing hearing loss, their brains are working overtime in order to capture and process sounds. With cross conversations and distracting environmental sounds happening, it can be easy to lose track of the dialog happening.
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Ways Hearing Loss Can Lead To Dementia
How might hearing loss contribute to cognitive problems and dementia? Lin suggests four possibilities. The most obvious is a common physiological pathway that contributes to both hearing loss and cognitive decline something like high blood pressure, for instance. But he and other researchers used statistical methods to take into account the factors known to be associated with both conditions, so Lin doesn’t give this explanation much credence.
Another possibility has to do with what researchers refer to as “cognitive load” essentially, that the effort of constantly straining to understand stresses the brain. This one makes intuitive sense.
“If you put in a lot of effort just to comprehend what you’re hearing, it takes resources that would otherwise be available for encoding in memory,” says Arthur Wingfield, professor of neuroscience at Brandeis University. Research in Wingfield’s lab has documented this effect on a short-term basis. The big question, he says, is whether years of drawing resources away from brain functions such as working memory will eventually reduce the brain’s resilience.
Finally, it seems very likely that social isolation plays a part. Being hard of hearing tends to isolate people from others: When you have to struggle to converse, you’re less likely to want to socialize in groups or go out to restaurants. And being socially isolated has long been recognized as a risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia.
Exposure To Excessively Loud Noise Can Permanently Damage Your Hearing
Approximately 10 million Americans have hearing loss associated with noise-induced hearing loss. NIHL is permanent and cannot be reversed medically or surgically. Excessively loud sounds damage the tiny sensory receptors, or hair cells, in the inner ear. To prevent damage, avoid loud sounds or wear hearing protection.
How Much Noise is Damaging to Ears?Normal conversation reaches 60-65 decibels. Lengthy or repeated exposure to noise above 85 decibels can damage your hearing:
- Fireworks can reach up to 155 decibels
- Jet plane taking off can be 150 decibels
- Shooting a gun can reach 140-175 decibels
- Music concerts and a high-volume MP3 player can reach 120 decibels
- Movie action scenes in the theater can reach 100 decibels
- Lawn mowers can reach 85 decibels
- Chain saws can reach 115-120 decibels
Four Ways to Protect Your HearingE earplugsR reduce the level of soundsS shorten time in loud environments
According to the NIH, age is the strongest predictor of hearing loss among adults aged 20-69, with the greatest amount of hearing loss in the 60 to 69 age group. Given that 20% of those with hearing loss dont seek treatment, its imperative to make them aware of the debilitating physiological and sociological effects that can ensue if hearing loss is left untreated.
~ Dr. Lana B. Patitucci, D.O.
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What Can You Do
If you want try to lower your chances of hearing loss as you age, try to keep your heart healthy, protect your hearing from loud noises, and donât smoke.
âSmoking is a big risk factor for sensory loss — vision and hearing,â says Heather Whitson, MD, at Duke Health.
Even when they take precautions, some people are simply more likely to get hearing loss in older age. In those cases, can using hearing aids protect you from dementia?
âThatâs the billion-dollar question,â Lin says.
Lin is leading a 5-year clinical trial studying 850 people to see if hearing aids can cut dementia.
Even without the proof, Lin says thereâs no downside to using hearing aids. In fact, thereâs often a big upside to getting help for your hearing loss.
âWith a very simple intervention, we could make a big difference improving quality of life,â Lin said.
In a pilot study, people with dementia started wearing inexpensive, over-the-counter devices to boost their hearing. A month later, their caregivers reported improved communication, more laughter, and more storytelling.
âIf youâre an older adult with hearing loss, it would make sense to treat that hearing loss,â says Richard Gurgel, MD, of the University of Utah.
If you think your hearing has gotten worse with age, Gurgel recommends a hearing screening. The relatively quick, painless test can help you notice how your hearing changes as you get older and if a hearing aid would help you.
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What About Tinnitus And Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s disease is slightly more common among people who have tinnitus than people who don’t, at least one study has indicated. In that study, conducted in Taiwan, 3.1% of tinnitus patients developed Alzheimer’s over a 10-year period, compared to 2% of those who did not have tinnitus. However, scientists do not know why this relationship exists, and more research is needed.
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Interaction Between Neuronal Activity And Ad Pathology In The Mtl
Our favored mechanism 4 is supported by circumstantial evidenceâthe co-occurrence of altered neuronal activity due to hearing loss and AD pathology in the MTL. We speculate here about specific links between neuronal mechanisms and AD pathology that can be tested in animal models.
We have speculated on two candidate causal links between auditory-related neuronal activity and AD pathology in the MTLâone based on the magnitude of activity in individual neurons associated with difficult listening and the other based on altered oscillatory activity in MTL networks due to changes in driving inputs. Both hypotheses can be tested in further animal work.
Benefits Of Wearing A Hearing Aid
Treating your hearing loss is the first step toward a healthier, happier life. Wearing a hearing aid can enrich your life and reopen many doors that may have closed for you over the years. Other benefits of treating your hearing loss with hearing aids include:
- Hearing your grandchilds first words
- Hearing nature again
- Attending dinners in noisy environments
- Enjoying parties and understanding conversation
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How Is Hearing Loss Linked To Dementia
Statistics show that the risk of both hearing loss and dementia increase with age, according to the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. It has also been established that there is a possible relation between hearing loss and cognitive decline, but the exact mechanism is still under research.
Cognitive decline is when you have trouble remembering, learning, concentrating, or making decisions and it can range from mild to severe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Severe forms of cognitive decline are known as dementia, and Alzheimerâs disease is the most common type of dementia.
âStudies suggest that hearing loss affects brain function, which in result causes dementia,â Aniko Dunn, PsyD, a psychologist at EZCare Clinic in San Francisco, tells WebMD Connect to Care. âWhen the hearing section becomes inactive…it results in brain shrinkage, which is known as tissue loss, or change in brain structure. is the first link between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s or dementia,â Dunn says.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, brain scans have shown that atrophy of the brain may occur faster in case of hearing loss. Also, untreated hearing loss leads to loneliness, social withdrawal, and decreased engagement in group activities, which may contribute to dementia.
Hearing Loss And Cognition: What We Know And Where We Need To Go
- 1Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- 2Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- 3Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- 4Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
- 5Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Can Hearing Aids Reduce The Risk Of Dementia
Hearing aids are a type of amplification device used to manage hearing loss. Research is ongoing to determine if hearing aids can reduce cognitive decline and dementia, but findings in this area have been encouraging thus far. 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. Properly fit 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.
Hearing Loss Linked To Alzheimerswhats The Connection
Studies suggest that hearing loss causes brain changes that raise the risk for dementia. Brain shrinkage When the hearing section of the brain grows inactive, it results in tissue loss and changes in brain structurecreating the first link between hearing loss and Alzheimers disease. Studies show that the brains of people with hearing loss shrinkor atrophymore quickly than the brains of people with normal hearing.Brain overload An overwhelmed brain creates the second link between hearing loss and dementia. When its difficult to hear, the brain must work overtime just to understand what people are saying. Straining to hear all day, every day, depletes a persons mental energy and steals brain power needed for other crucial functions like remembering, thinking, and acting. This can further set the stage for Alzheimers, dementia and other cognitive disorders.
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