Untreated Hearing Loss Is Linked to an Increased Risk of Cognitive Decline
Did you know the brain’s auditory cortex plays a crucial role in hearing? Using your hearing, much like exercising a muscle, strengthens it and improves its effectiveness. A 25-year study has shown that hearing aid use can help slow cognitive decline in older adults.
What’s the Connection?
Hearing loss doesn’t only affect your ears; it affects your mental health and overall well-being. When left untreated, hearing loss can prevent certain sound signals and frequencies from reaching the brain. Over time this results in a lack of stimulation for the brain because it’s missing out on sounds it needs to process and retain information. Eventually your brain will begin to forget these certain sounds, and studies show this can lead to cognitive decline and even dementia.
You need your hearing to keep your brain active and healthy. One of the best ways to prevent cognitive decline is by engaging with other people on a regular basis. Conversations and social interactions require your brain to process what is happening and to continuously retain new information. If you have hearing loss, then your brain is focusing more on being able to hear rather than remembering what is being discussed.
Keep Your Hearing Healthy
To be proactive of your overall health and to keep your cognitive abilities from declining is to wear hearing aids if you have a hearing loss. Hearing aids will amplify the sounds around you, allowing you to hear better and have clarity during a conversation. With hearing aids, you won’t worry about mishearing your friend or family member. Hearing aids will provide you with the confidence you need to stay engaged and keep your brain active.
The Earlier, the Better!
Hearing loss often progresses gradually, leading many to delay testing. Timely evaluation helps identify auditory issues, such as high-frequency hearing loss, which can increase the risk and rate of cognitive decline. Schedule your appointment today to have your hearing tested!