Hearing Loss and Alzheimer’s:

Is there a link?

Studies show that elderly people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

How does hearing loss affect my brain function?

With hearing loss (even a slight hearing loss), the processing of sound is compromised and the ability to understand speech declines. When the hearing areas of the brain become weaker, the higher level brain areas attempt to compensate for these weaker areas which leaves them unavailable to do their primary work like thinking, problem solving and reasoning.

How can hearing aids help?

Research found that hearing aid users had no greater risk of cognitive decline than those with normal hearing. The benefits of hearing aid technology on higher level brain function (cognition) are well documented. Hearing aids help your brain to focus on the primary cognitive jobs.

What else can I do to help my brain?

People with hearing loss often avoid social situations out of frustration or embarrassment. However, research shows that being in social situations is one of the best things to do to excercise and maintain your brain.

Reference: Amieva et al., 2015; Packer, 2015