“The more hearing loss you have, the greater the likelihood of developing Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease. Hearing Aids could delay or prevent dementia by improving the patients’ hearing.” – Hopkins Report
Can you help prevent Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease?
One of these causes, unbeknownst to many, may commonly be hearing loss. Recent studies conducted at the University of Washington’s Department of Medicine found that out of 100 patients with Alzheimer’s, 83 patients had a hearing loss. Once fit with hearing aids, a third of those patients were classified with a less severe case of dementia.
So how is hearing loss related to Alzheimer’s?
Well, hearing loss actually plays a large role in brain function and stimulating brain activity in processing sounds. The term ‘auditory deprivation’ refers to depriving the brain of stimulation from sounds. For those with untreated hearing losses, the reduced ability to hear every day sounds may lead to reduced sound processing activity by the brain. As the brain receives fewer sounds, it becomes less active in processing a person’s surroundings and recognizing speech.
What can be done?
The first step towards prevention is an easy one, have a hearing test to identify hearing loss. In fact, the Michigan chapter of Self-Help for Hard of Hearing advocates for a hearing evaluation required prior to any Alzheimer’s diagnosis to determine the impact and overlap with results of hearing loss.
If you have any questions or would like a free consultation please let our friendly staff at Smith Hearing Technologies help. To book an appointment please fill out our Contact Us form on the left or visit our Locations Page.
For more information on the John Hopkins study, visit their website Here.
