Someone sent me a link to an article from Johns Hopkins Medicine discussing the possibility of hearing loss being linked to dementia. For some reason, it seems as if seniors with hearing loss are more likely to suffer from dementia. The article states that no one is for sure whether hearing loss is associated with dementia or if hearing loss somehow causes dementia.
But, if there is a link between the two it could possibly be because of two reasons. One, those who develop hearing loss as they get older tend to be more socially isolated and less active. Two, perhaps "the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia" (2nd paragraph of article), which I find interesting.
If they do find that hearing loss is associated with dementia, it seems as if it would be for those who later developed hearing loss as they hit their senior years. I think that those who have always had hearing loss (from birth, from earlier years) would be less likely to develop dementia, being that their brain is accustomed to the way it hears and process sounds, and because they are accustomed to having a hearing loss, by the time they are seniors it should not interfere with how they have always socially interacted with others and lead their lives.
I would think that if there is a connection between the two, there would be more people willing to wear hearing aids or utilize hearing technology to combat symptoms of dementia. Appropriate hearing aids should help seniors continue to be active and social and to try to carry on with their lives as usual. In addition, I think they should be offered free counseling and guidance from hearing loss experts and be encouraged to join hearing loss support groups and organizations such as HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America).
By the way, I heard that seniors are often misdiagnosed as having dementia due to undiagnosed hearing loss. Apparently, many of the symptoms of developing a hearing loss are similar to symptoms of dementia (confusion, change of personality, disorientation, inattention, etc.).
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Link to article:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_and_dementia_linked_in_study
But, if there is a link between the two it could possibly be because of two reasons. One, those who develop hearing loss as they get older tend to be more socially isolated and less active. Two, perhaps "the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia" (2nd paragraph of article), which I find interesting.
If they do find that hearing loss is associated with dementia, it seems as if it would be for those who later developed hearing loss as they hit their senior years. I think that those who have always had hearing loss (from birth, from earlier years) would be less likely to develop dementia, being that their brain is accustomed to the way it hears and process sounds, and because they are accustomed to having a hearing loss, by the time they are seniors it should not interfere with how they have always socially interacted with others and lead their lives.
I would think that if there is a connection between the two, there would be more people willing to wear hearing aids or utilize hearing technology to combat symptoms of dementia. Appropriate hearing aids should help seniors continue to be active and social and to try to carry on with their lives as usual. In addition, I think they should be offered free counseling and guidance from hearing loss experts and be encouraged to join hearing loss support groups and organizations such as HLAA (Hearing Loss Association of America).
By the way, I heard that seniors are often misdiagnosed as having dementia due to undiagnosed hearing loss. Apparently, many of the symptoms of developing a hearing loss are similar to symptoms of dementia (confusion, change of personality, disorientation, inattention, etc.).
(e
Link to article:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_and_dementia_linked_in_study
Interesting questions. One area to explore would be whether neural degeneration leading to hearing loss is related to similar degeneration in the brain.
ReplyDeleteAnother would be the effect of depression on cognition...especially depression resulting from hearing loss late in life.
Yet another would be etiology of hearing loss. Does deafness from meningitis or similar fevers have a relationship to dementia as compared to hereditary deafness?
Some of these explorations could suggest treatments or prevention measures.
Great points, Dianrez. Did not think about neural degeneration. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see more research and awareness in this area, so we can learn more about this and provide more treatment options.
Hearing loss cuts you off from the mainstream world, old age cuts you off from deaf friends too. The result is isolation, a lot less social life, less interest in self input etc. result a lot less impetus to take an interest in anything, this has to contribute to dementia. I think it starts a lot earlier in fact when deaf leave school and take little interest in further educating themselves and retire to the 'community', BAD MOVE ! It's good to have an community to belong to, NOT a good move to put all your interest eggs in one basket. As with hearing, the deaf abandon their elderly, so be prepared.... More reason to develop interests that do NOT revolve around the deaf world.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was sometimes thought to be "losing it", but he just couldn't hear, and often "tuned out".
ReplyDeleteIf they study deaf who is very active in the ASL community all their life and see if it really isolation the problem (as some deaf are not fluent in a language and struggle with communication - as my sis told me that hearing are uncomfortable around deaf and in my experience hearing like their freedom using phone and all that. they dont want to slow down for an one in one conversation or adjust their speaking style for us) it would give us a better picture
ReplyDeleteHearing today is all about Technology and the advances seen in recent years. It has been created to house up-to-date discussion on hearing aids. There is a link between the two it could possibly be because of two reasons. One, those who develop hearing loss as they get older tends to be more socially isolated and less active. Two, perhaps "the strain of decoding sounds over the years may overwhelm the brains of people with hearing loss, leaving them more vulnerable to dementia. Thanks for sharing…
ReplyDeletehearing aids
My mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia and has suffered hearing loss in recent years. She has hearing aids -- top of the line -- but doesn't like to wear them except in public or when guests come to visit.
ReplyDeleteWe were told by the audiologist that hearing aids should be worn regularly -- even when the hearing-impaired individual is alone. In fact, the reason many elders don't like to wear their hearing aids is that they don't give them a chance, or they don't stay the course to get "used" to them. New technology in hearing aids is amazing, but again, the person has to wear the devices and learn to adjust to them in a variety of circumstances and environments. That factor is especially important for dementia patients, as they need to process the sounds of the environment around them to stay on top of things. Even listening to the sounds of the furnace, or bird chirping outside, is information that helps the brain "process."
I am not sure how to get my mother to wear the hearing aids when we're not around. She is very stubborn -- and also denies her dementia diagnosis. We (including her doctors) have tried to explain the link between the two issues, but she refuses to follow our suggestions. She is getting worse by the week, and misses most of what we tell her and forgets everything unless we write it down.