Dementia & Hearing Loss Linked
Better Hearing May Help Reduce the Likelihood of Dementia Alzheimer’s
A recent study by Johns Hopkins Medicine and the National Institute of Aging report a correlation between untreated hearing loss and the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s. The main cause for concern relates to a term called ‘auditory deprivation’ which means that instead of the brain actively processing sounds throughout the day, the decrease in sounds, due to hearing loss, reduces this stimulation of the brain. The reduction of brain activity from processing sounds and comprehending speech may play a big factor in the development of dementia in many cases.
What is Dementia?
When a group of indicators considerably hinder day-to-day performance, including memory, thinking, and social skills, they are referred to be dementia. There are many conditions that can cause dementia, even if there isn’t one specific illness that does. Due in part to decreased social engagement, hearing loss may raise a person’s risk of dementia. A hearing aid may be able to stop or reduce cognitive decline.
The Connection - Dementia Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss has been linked in a study to dementia and Alzheimer’s progression. The fundamental issue is something called “auditory deprivation,” which describes how hearing loss affects the brain’s capability to be stimulated by noises all day, as opposed to the brain being continuously interpreting stimuli all day. In many instances, the decline in cognitive function associated with interpreting sounds and understanding speech may be a major contributor to dementia progression.
Coping with Dementia Hearing Loss
According to a 2018 study, some elderly people with dementia benefit from receiving a hearing aid. Individuals who have dementia and hearing loss may also benefit from the following tactics:
- Receiving speech and language counseling
- Utilizing cue cards to encourage others to speak clearly and slowly
- Encouraging peers to make eye contact as they speak
- Frequently replacing the batteries in one’s hearing aids; and
Seeking calmer locations
Can Hearing Aids Help Dementia?
Scientific research has demonstrated that wearing hearing aids lowers the incidence of cognitive deterioration and dementia. The research also discovered that using hearing aids completely or partially removed the elevated risk of dementia. As per the research, there was no increased risk for hearing aid users relative to those who reported no hearing loss.
According to previous findings from the same research, wearing hearing aids also almost eliminates the risk of cognitive loss. According to the research, there wasn’t any increased danger for hearing aid users relative to those who reported no hearing loss.
Dementia Treatments
Dementia cannot be addressed by drugs. However, some may temporarily help with some of the symptoms. Additionally, other medications may be prescribed by doctors to treat dementia-related issues like sadness, restlessness, or irritability.
Anti-cholinesterase drugs
Inhibitors of cholinesterase stop the enzyme from degrading this critical signaling molecule in the brain. In this approach, the prescription for dementia contributes to the maintenance of the chemical levels required for greater communication among nerve cells and a prolonged stabilizing of some of the disease’s symptoms.
Therapeutic approaches
These methods might spark your dear one’s cognition and memory abilities, or at the minimum, they might make them happy and improve their life. Inspect everything they try to make sure it improves their life satisfaction and doesn’t confuse or annoy them.
- Reminiscence therapy
- Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST)
- Reality orientation training
Personal Changes
Even if a person has dementia, their routines can have an impact on how they feel. Their mind and mood will benefit from the same things that are healthy for their heart and the rest of their body.
- Be proactive
- Encourage sound sleep
- Concentrate on eating
- Test your brainpower
- Stay arranged
- Clean up your house
FAQs
The likelihood of developing dementia, a disorder characterized by memory loss and difficulties with cognition, problem-solving, and other cognitive functions, is increasing, according to a growing body of research. Simply put, the probabilities of dementia are higher for those with hearing loss, who make up around two-thirds of adults over the age of 70. Even if you begin to have hearing issues, there could be measures you can undertake to lessen your risks of mental decline.
Wearing hearing aids may reduce your chances of dementia and cognitive decline. You can contact us at ___ to understand which hearing aid will be the best fit for your problem.
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Vascular Dementia
- Dementia With Lewy Bodies (DLB)
- Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
- Mixed Dementia
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
- Huntington’s Disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Subtle alterations to short-term memory
- Choosing the appropriate words is difficult
- Mood swings
- Apathy
- Having trouble finishing tasks
- Uncertainty
- Having trouble navigating
- Struggling to evolve with the times
- Repetition
- Faulty judgment
As hearing loss puts additional strain on cognitive capabilities, it may impact someone’s memory. There is less energy accessible for other cognitive functions, such as memory, because so much energy is devoted to understanding speech and noises.
