Hearing loss affects so many different parts of your life. It makes it harder to understand speech and focus on what others are saying, whether at the office or grabbing a latte with friends at Clyde Coffee.
Research has also indicated that, if left untreated, hearing loss has the potential to affect your memory.
What The Research Says
There have been numerous studies on the potential effects hearing loss has on memory.
One study followed nearly 2,000 participants for several years to try and establish the connection between hearing loss and changes in cognition. The results of this study showed that “hearing loss is independently associated with accelerated cognitive decline and cognitive impairment.”
Another study from John Hopkins University found that not only was hearing loss associated with cognitive decline and dementia, but the more severe a person’s hearing loss was, the greater their risk of developing dementia became.
Possible Reasons Untreated Hearing Loss May Affect Memory
More research needs to be done into how and to what degree hearing loss and memory are related. However, there are some thoughts as to why and how hearing loss, cognition and memory are linked.
- Hearing loss makes concentration difficult. With untreated hearing loss, you have to concentrate harder to understand sounds. So, when you have a conversation with a friend or coworker, you may be focusing so much on hearing what they said that you don’t have as much mental energy to remember what they told you afterward.
- Hearing loss can lead to isolation. Socializing with others becomes more difficult when you struggle to hear. This can lead many people to avoid activities like dinners with friends, birthday parties and large public events. Isolation deprives your brain of stimulation and can worsen cognition.
- Hearing loss can worsen mental health. Hearing loss is stressful and can lead to increased feelings of anxiety and depression because of the way it interferes with your daily life. Research suggests that depression can lead to significantly reduced working memory.
Hearing Aids Can Reduce Strain on Your Brain
Hearing aids make it easier for your brain to process speech and other sounds. This reduces your cognitive load, helps you to concentrate better and lets you stay connected to the people and the activities you love.
If you’ve been putting off scheduling a hearing test, call Western Montana Hearing and Speech today to take the first step towards bettering your hearing health and finding the right pair of hearing aids for you.