Hearing-Aid Use Slows Decline of Thinking Skills

By: Doug Garfield | Posted on: 03-18-2022 | Category: Hearing aids | Dementia

Researchers at Ulster University in Northern Ireland, led by Dr. Magda Bucholc, report two notewothy findings from their latest study:

People with untreated hearing loss have a significantly higher risk of developing mild-cognitive impairment (MCI).
People with hearing loss who wear hearing aids have a significantly reduced risk of MCI.

Hearing aids reduce the risk of cognitive impairment

Wearing hearing aids reduced the risk of MCI by over 50% compared to those not using hearing aids. The research team concluded the risk of MCI and cognitive decline was the same for people without hearing loss and those with hearing loss who wore hearing aids.

This new research adds to the team’s earlier study, which found that people with MCI who wore their hearing aids were less likely to develop dementia. For context, keep in mind that a third of people 65 and older have hearing loss.

So, improved audiology screening and better access to quality hearing healthcare form an actionable strategy to reduce the incidence of MCI and help mitigate the impending dementia epidemic. —Dr. Bucholc

The study was the first to look into the link between hearing aids, cognitive decline, and progression to MCI in cognitively healthy individuals. Researchers analyzed data on 4,300 people from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center in Seattle, Washington.

Prelude to dementia

With MCI, thinking and memory have declined more than expected from aging alone, but not enough to be considered dementia. Approximately 20% of people 65 and older have MCI; 10-15% of people with MCI develop dementia.

The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care estimates that untreated hearing loss may account for 9% of dementia cases.

Do you have hearing loss? Now is the time to find out because untreated hearing loss can lead to dementia.