Hearing loss in middle age — ages 45 to 65 — is the most significant risk factor for dementia. It accounts for more than 8 percent of all dementia cases. A 2020 Lancet report calculated that hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia, similar to the increased risk caused by a traumatic brain injury.
Don’t forget, hearing ability is a continuum, so any subclinical hearing loss can mean a greater risk for dementia. For example, hearing-loss research at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons reports the largest decrease in cognitive ability occurred in those whose hearing was starting to become impaired, just 10 dB off the perfect mark.
Most people with hearing loss believe they can go about their lives just fine without treatment, and maybe some can, says Justin Golub, MD, who led the study. But hearing loss is not benign. It has been linked to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, and dementia. Hearing loss should be treated. This study suggests the earlier, the better. —ScienceDaily
Hearing aids boost successful aging
As Frank Lin, MD, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health points out,
As a way of reducing the occurrence of dementia, addressing hearing loss is a win-win. It’s really common, it’s treatable, and there are interventions that come at no risk. —The Washington Post, 10/20/2022
The takeaway: Maintaining your ability to hear is key to living a richly active and rewarding life till the end. Annual hearing screenings with an audiologist will track the status of your hearing health — and give you the advantage of adopting hearing aids as soon as you need them.
Let us help you preserve your hearing
Maintaining your hearing health starts by scheduling a free, 15-minute hearing screening with an audiologist. You’ll learn what your hearing status is today.
If you have hearing loss, your audiologist will explain
- How much hearing you’ve lost
- Whether your hearing needs treatment now or later
- The most effective treatment plan
