The Link Between Hearing Loss And Cognitive Decline

For many people, hearing loss is a fact of life. There are a variety of factors that can cause someone to lose their hearing. While some illnesses may cause temporary hearing loss, many individuals will permanently lose some of their hearing. Aging is one of the most common causes of permanent hearing loss, as your ears deteriorate over time. Repeated exposure to loud noises and certain illnesses or injuries can speed up this process, causing some to lose their hearing earlier.

Regardless of what has caused your hearing to deteriorate, hearing loss will impact your life. Here are some of the ways that it can do so, as well as what you can do to manage it.

Common Effects of Hearing Loss

The most noticeable effect of hearing loss is that it can become harder to communicate with people. This is especially true in group conversations, as it’s easy to get lost in the sea of voices and lose track. You might also find it difficult to talk to people in a one-on-one setting, as they need to repeat themselves or speak louder.

This difficulty with communication can lead to social isolation. If you can’t keep up with the conversation in a crowd, then you aren’t able to really be a part of it. This can cause feelings of loneliness and even affect your mental and emotional health. 

Hearing loss can have other effects on your health as well, especially age-related hearing loss. As you get older, you may experience a measure of cognitive decline as a matter of course, but hearing loss can worsen this. 

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Studies have recently shown that older people who lose their hearing may experience a faster rate of cognitive decline. They are also more likely to develop serious age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

There are several theories to explain this link. The first of which is that your brain has to work harder to compensate for worsening hearing. You are constantly straining to pick up and understand speech and sound, which causes your brain to get overworked.

Not only this, but your brain requires stimulation to stay healthy. This is why it’s recommended to play brain-training games or puzzles as you get older. If you can’t receive sound as effectively, then the parts of your brain that process sound can shrink and atrophy, leading to deterioration.

On a similar note, because communication is more difficult, you might be less likely to socialize with other people. However, being around people is one of the best ways to keep your mind stimulated and prevent atrophy. This isolation can therefore speed up cognitive decline. 

Managing Hearing Loss

The good news is that there are ways to manage your hearing loss and counteract these issues. If your hearing loss is related to wear and tear and repeated exposure to loud noises, then using ear protectors will slow down any further damage to your hearing. If you use ear protection soon enough, then you may even prevent premature permanent hearing loss.

If you are already experiencing a measure of hearing loss, then it’s important to see a hearing specialist as soon as possible. Most people only notice that their hearing is worse when its already progressed, as they compensate for it. 

If you find that you are constantly turning the television or radio volume up, or you’ve started to use the subtitles, then you might have lost some of your hearing. Other people might notice your hearing loss before you do, especially if they have to repeat themselves or raise their voices to be heard. Listen to those around you who express concern.

A hearing instrument specialist can determine the extent of your hearing loss and come up with a treatment plan to help you. The most common treatment for hearing loss is the use of a hearing aid, which can bring your hearing back to what it should be and allow you to keep up with conversations again.

There are a variety of hearing aids, and some types might be better for your needs. Your hearing specialist will recommend different options and explain the pros and cons of each one, as some might be more or less suitable for your type of hearing loss.

Your hearing instrument specialist will also teach you how to use and look after your hearing aids. You will need to return to get your hearing tested regularly, as well as get your hearing aids checked out or replaced when needed. If you want to learn more about identifying and treating hearing loss, give the specialists at Hearing Center of Columbia a call today at (931) 548-1166.