Hearing Loss and Cognitive Impairment
Did you know that brain health and hearing health are connected?
For many years now, researchers have been studying the link between age-related hearing loss and an increase in the progression of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.
Increasing research and subsequent evidence has linked age-related hearing loss with a more rapid progression of cognitive decline and incidental dementia. In fact, according to a Johns Hopkins Medicine study that tracked 639 adults for nearly 12 years, “researchers found that a mild hearing loss doubled [a person’s] dementia risk. Moderate loss tripled risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.”
While this is happening, many of the brain’s key functions are being impacted significantly. Not only hearing, but speech and language cognition, and memory are being negatively affected, placing us at greater risk of cognitive decline than many other mid-to-late life risks.
However, continued research is showing that proactively managing hearing loss may slow down or possibly even delay the progression of cognitive decline.
This is why Associated Hearing places such an emphasis on annual hearing evaluations for patients over the age of 55. The sooner we can identify hearing loss, the sooner we can create personalized solutions for our patients designed to preserve the hearing they have, delay the progression of age-related hearing loss, and promote healthy brain function.
Research does indicate that the consistent use of properly fit hearing aids is key to this plan.
Additionally, having the ability to properly assess hearing and brain health means we can create better recommendations sooner for the patients who need it most. This is why we started using Cognivue Thrive as a part of our comprehensive hearing assessments.
By using Cognivue Thrive, our providers get a deeper understanding of a patient’s hearing and brain health, and can use that information to create treatment recommendations designed specifically for your unique needs.
Ready to learn more about how you can promote good brain and hearing health? Contact us today for your comprehensive hearing examination. You deserve the very best in hearing health. Don’t wait another day!
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