Unveiling the link: hearing aids can help protect your brain power

Hearing health is about so much more than your ears. It can have a direct impact on your cognitive health and well-being (1).Researchers have found out that people with untreated hearing loss have a higher risk to develop dementia compared to people with good hearing (2).

Did you know…that your ears and your brain work as a team?

Our ears are responsible for picking up sounds whereas our brain gives meaning to the puzzle of sounds.^4,5

Listening to sounds and processing speech keeps your brain active. This stimulation is key for cognitive health as it maintains neural connections which are crucial for the brain to function well.⁶

Many people underestimate the impact of hearing loss, thinking of it as just a sensory problem. Struggling to hear taxes your brain as it has to work hard to make sense of incomplete information.⁷

Over time, this extra effort can lead to fatigue and stress, impacting your overall cognitive health.^8,9

Hearing loss and cognitive health – a strong connection

Early symptoms of cognitive decline (14)

Common changes in mood and behavior include:

• feeling anxious, sad, or angry about memory loss 
• personality changes
• inappropriate behavior
• withdrawal from work or social activities
• being less interested in other people’s emotions.

How to reduce your risk of cognitive decline (15)

The good news is: There are several things you can do about your lifestyle habits to bring your own risk down.

Act now to protect your cognitive health

Considering the strong connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline,it becomes even more impactful, as we age, to have not only your overall physical health, but also your hearing health checked on a regular basis.

Hearing aids not only improve listening abilities but can support cognitive health and make a strong contribution to your overall well-being.^3,16

When did you last have your hearing checked?

References

^{1 Vercammen C, Ferguson M, Kramer SE, et al. Well-hearing is well-being. Hearing Review. 2020;27(3):18-22.}

^{2 Yeo, B. S. Y., Song, H. J. J. M. D., Toh, E. M. S., Ng, L. S., Ho, C. S. H., Ho, R., Merchant, R. A., Tan, B. K. J., & Loh, W. S. (2023). Association of Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants With Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA neurology, 80(2), 134–141. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4427}

^{3 Lin, F. et al., (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X.}

^{4 Kiessling, J., Pichora-Fuller, M. K., Gatehouse, S., Stephens, D., Arlinger, S., Chisolm, T., . . . von Wedel, H. (2003). Candidature for and delivery of audiological services: special needs of older people. International journal of audiology, 42Suppl 2, 2S92-101. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12918635.}

^{5 World Health Organization. (2021). World report on hearing. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved March 8th, 2021. from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/world-report-on-hearing.}

^{6 Lemke, U., & Scherpiet, S. (2015). Oral communication in individuals with hearing impairment—considerations regarding attentional, cognitive and social resources.}

^{Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 998.}

^{7 Holman, J. A., Hornsby, B. W. Y., Bess, F. H., & Naylor, G. (2021). Can listening-related fatigue influence well-being? Examining associations between hearing loss, fatigue, activity levels and well-being. International journal of audiology, 60 (sup2), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2020.1853261}

^{8 Winneke, A. H., Schulte, M., Vormann, M., & Latzel, M. (2020). Effect of directional microphone technology in hearing aids on neural correlates of listening and memory effort: an electroencephalographic study. Trends in Hearing, 24, 2331216520948410.}

^{9 Holman, J. A., Drummond, A., & Naylor, G. (2021). Hearing aids reduce daily-life fatigue and increase social activity: a longitudinal study. Trends in Hearing, 25, 23312165211052786.}

^{10 Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). (2018). Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Seattle, WA: IHME. http://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/policy_report/2019/GBD_2017_Booklet.pdf}

^{11 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2022). World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results. UN DESA/POP/2022/TR/NO.3.}

^{12 WHO, Dementia, in Key facts. 2021.}

^{13 Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., . . . Mukadam, N. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. Lancet (London, England), 396 (10248), 413-446. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6}

^{14 World Health Organization. (2023). Retrieved November 22nd, 2023. from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia}

^{15 Alzheimer’s Society. (2023). How to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's and other dementias. Retrieved November 22nd, 2023. from https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/how-reduce-your-risk-alzheimers-and-other-dementias#1}

^{16 Sarant, J., et al. (2023 July 16-20). Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Hearing Loss: Outcomes for treated vs untreated groups at 3-year follow-up [Conference poster]. AAIC 2023 Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands.}

^{The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. You should not use the information as a substitute for, nor should it replace, professional medical advice. If you have any questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.}