Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is a great time to learn more about the correlation between hearing loss and cognitive issues—and how well-fit hearing aids may help.
How Hearing Loss Can Affect the Brain
Hearing loss can impact the brain in several ways:
- Difficulty hearing can reduce the brain’s ability to process sound efficiently, which may affect memory and thinking.
- Hearing loss can make it harder to follow conversations, which may lead to reduced mental stimulation.
- Reduced auditory input from hearing loss may lead to changes in brain structure and function over time.
What the Research Shows
A number of studies have examined the correlation between hearing loss and cognitive decline and dementia:
- A 2011 study of 639 adults over a span of 12 years found dementia rates increased with hearing loss severity beyond 25 decibels.
- A 2013 Health ABC study of 1,984 older adults found that hearing loss correlated with a higher risk of cognitive decline.
Hearing Aids May Reduce the Risk
Evidence shows how important well-fit hearing aids can be:
- A cohort study of 538,000 people (avg. age 60) in Southern Denmark (2003–2017) found that untreated hearing loss correlated with higher dementia hazard ratios compared to hearing aid users.
- A 2019 study of 115,000 Medicare participants (66+) found that treating hearing loss with hearing aid use reduced rates of diagnosed dementia over three years compared to untreated individuals.
- A 2023 study of 2,400 Medicare beneficiaries (65+, especially 80+) found hearing aid use correlated with less cognitive decline in hearing-impaired seniors at high risk of dementia.
Statistics like these make it clear that caring for your hearing health is just as important as caring for any other aspect of your health.
If it’s been a while since you had a hearing checkup, we’re here to help. Call (352) 629-4418 today to schedule your appointment.