In the last decade or so, there has been a growing body of research surrounding the correlation of hearing loss and cognitive decline. Throughout the years, researchers have uncovered that there is a strong correlation between the two; however, the causal reason for this correlation was relatively unknown.
Recently, new research has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that points to social isolation and untreated hearing loss as the potential link between hearing loss and increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia.
The researchers asked this important question:
“Does untreated hearing loss and social isolation explain the link between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline?”
About the Study
Researchers took data from the English Longitudinal Study on Aging (ELSA) on men and women over the age of 50 who were living in community settings throughout the United Kingdom. Participants were excluded if they already had a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia when the study began, wore cochlear implants, or experienced Parkinson’s Disease or regular ear infections.
After exclusion practices, 7,385 participants remained. Of these participants, about 41% experienced mild or moderate hearing loss, about 10% experienced severe or profound hearing loss, and 49% had no hearing loss. Of the participants who did have some degree of hearing loss, about 11% of these regularly used hearing aids.
Participants’ hearing was screened using a Siemens HearCheck screener device. To test their cognition, the researchers used norm-referenced memory and executive function assessments.
Results of the Study
The results of this study were quite astonishing. Participants with moderate or severe hearing loss scored an entire point lower on memory and cognition assessments as their counterparts without hearing loss. (One point is a significant difference on these types of cognition assessments). These findings are in alignment with other studies that have found hearing loss to have a negative correlation with cognition.
What makes this study even more powerful, however, is the fact that this one-point difference was NOT prevalent amongst the group of participants who had treated their hearing loss with hearing aids. Those who had treated their hearing loss actually scored on-par with their peers without hearing loss (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2698895).
The authors of this study have concluded that social isolation experienced amongst those with hearing loss that they have not treated is the causal link between hearing loss and cognitive decline.
Early Signs of Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus – ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Complaints from friends and family – about the volume on the TV, or that you are simply not listening to them
- Social isolation – Most of the time this is subconscious, however, as conversing in noisy and busy environments becomes more frustrating and difficult, we begin to slowly isolate ourselves from social situations.
- The feeling that everyone else is mumbling
- More difficulty understanding women and/or children than men – higher pitched sounds are usually the first to go with hearing loss.
What Can I Do?
Another conclusion made by the authors of this study adds to the scientific consensus that early intervention of hearing loss is a key factor in mitigating cognitive decline for people over the age of 50. Because of this strong correlation, it is best practice to get your hearing screened every year starting at age 50. This way, you and your hearing healthcare professional have a baseline idea of where your hearing lies.
It will also be a great way to determine if you have started to lose some of your hearing. Hearing loss is extremely gradual, so without annual screenings it can be very difficult to detect. In fact, most people wait about 7 years on average from the time they notice changes in their hearing to the time they seek treatment. 7 years is a very long time to live with untreated hearing loss – not only for your ears and your hearing, but for your brain and cognitive health as well.
If you have experienced any of the above early signs of hearing loss, reach out to our friendly team at Hearing Wellness Solutions today, your ears (and your brain) will thank you! We look forward to working with you and supporting you on your journey to better hearing.