How treating your hearing loss could prevent dementia
Dementia is one of the most feared conditions out there. Perhaps one of the scariest things about it is that there is no cure. But what if there were ways to delay onset or prevent it altogether?
Researchers are making headway with dietary and lifestyle factors that may assist in slowing the disease, and there are exciting medical developments in the works, too. One such development is the discovery of a link between hearing loss and dementia.
The medical community still has a long way to go, but there does seem to be a clear benefit in treating hearing loss in order to delay the onset of dementia. Follow these steps to book a free hearing test near you today.
Here's how you do it
Step 1: Select your state below.
Step 2: After answering a few questions, you will have the opportunity to compare hearing aids in your area and could be eligible for significant savings.
The link between hearing loss and dementia:
While the literature isn’t definitive yet, researchers at John Hopkins University in the USA have been making exciting progress in this area.
Initial studies have shown a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. More specifically, they’ve shown that hearing loss can speed up that decline at a much higher rate than normal.
An additional study has provided extremely promising results: subjects who had their hearing loss treated displayed significant cognitive improvement.
How is hearing loss related to brain function?
More research is needed in the hearing loss field, but experts have floated a number of theories that could explain why it appears to be linked to cognitive ability:
- Hearing loss that is left untreated can be socially isolating—many people experiencing it tend to avoid gatherings or situations where they will struggle to hear. Why does this matter? Social isolation is considered a major risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline in general.
- Straining to hear and understand others can put unnecessary stress on the brain and deplete its energy. This means there is less available for other cognitive functions, including memory storage.
When to get your hearing checked
Put simply, there is no ‘wrong’ age to have your hearing checked by a professional. Though most people who begin experiencing age-related hearing loss tend to be over 50 years old, if you’re only 30 and feel like your hearing isn’t what it used to be, don’t hesitate to get yours checked.
If you’re over 50 years old, it’s a great idea to test your hearing even if you haven’t noticed a problem. Treating hearing loss (even if it’s mild) as early as possible could be a key factor in slowing down dementia.
There’s no need to stress about time and money. If you have just two minutes to spare, we can have you booked in for a free hearing test near you! Just set up your appointment here.
What if you need a hearing aid?
We know that hearing aids can be expensive, but your audiologist will be able to walk you through the best options for both your level of hearing loss and your budget.
It’s our mission to help you correct your hearing loss and save money and to do so we ensure all of our partners offer free hearing tests and help you compare different types of devices.
Having a hearing aid fitted doesn’t just potentially slow down the onset of dementia. Hearing aids have been shown to improve quality of life immensely.
If you’re ready to restart a life without the struggles of hearing loss, lock in your appointment today. It takes two minutes to set up and is totally free!
This article is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.
This article is made in partnership with Hearing Aid Comparison.