Has hearing loss slowly crept up on you? Many people think
of aging-related hearing loss as a minor annoyance, not a serious health issue.
But there is evidence that hearing loss could be directly related to the onset
of dementia, according to a joint study in 2011 by Johns Hopkins University and
the National Institute on Aging.
Researchers aren’t sure why there’s a connection between
hearing loss and dementia. One theory is that the social isolation experienced
by people with hearing loss makes them more vulnerable to cognitive problems
like dementia. Another possibility is that the onset of dementia is related to
the cumulative stress of trying to make sense of garbled sounds. Scientists say
that when you’re extremely focused on translating random sounds into an
understandable sentence, there’s no brain power left for other functions. The
technical term for this struggle is “cognitive load.”
Meanwhile, it’s clear that proactively guarding your hearing
health provides multiple benefits. Good hearing health – and cognitive health —starts
with a simple hearing check. If you’ve noticed any difference in your hearing,
or if others have pointed out that you may have a hearing problem, experts say
that you should make an appointment with an audiologist to assess the
situation. And if you already use hearing aids but feel that you may be missing
some parts of conversations, it’s a good idea to have your hearing aids
reprogrammed or replaced by a specialist.
Did you know that these problems can be caused by hearing
loss?
- Isolation
and loneliness
- Relationship
difficulties
- Fatigue
- Memory
and attention lapses
- Depression
and anxiety
If your quality of life has diminished because of hearing
loss, consider contacting a hearing professional. Your personal hearing
solution may be simpler than you think.
