If you’ve been keeping up with hearing loss statistics, you may already know that hearing loss can impact your quality of life—and overall health. So, per today’s hearing fact from Johns Hopkins Medicine, why do people wait so long to pursue help for their hearing loss?
Reasons can range from unrecognized hearing loss to hearing aid stigma (learn more reasons plus the truths behind the myths in our recent blog). Unfortunately, all that time spent avoiding hearing loss treatment not only can increase communication difficulties, but also the risk of overall health issues—namely, dementia:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, untreated hearing loss can increase your likelihood of dementia by an astounding 50%.
What exactly is dementia? The National Institute on Aging defines dementia as “the loss of cognitive functioning—thinking, remembering, and reasoning—to such an extent that it interferes with a person's daily life and activities.”
It may come as no surprise, then, that dementia is the seventh leading cause of death and one of the main causes of disability and dependency among older people worldwide, as stated by the World Health Organization.
That said, how does leaving hearing loss untreated contribute to dementia? Here is what expert research has to say:
Hearing loss causes strain on the brain
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, untreated hearing loss forces the brain to work overtime as it tries to hear and literally “fill in the gaps” produced by hearing loss over time. As a result, the brain spends too much energy trying to process what it’s hearing, giving it less time to spend on thinking and memory.
Hearing loss accelerates brain atrophy
While brain atrophy (or “shrinkage”) is a normal and gradual part of aging, accelerated brain atrophy is not: Untreated hearing loss has been shown to speed up the loss of brain tissue, which can directly impact your ability to think and remember, says one of Johns Hopkins’ foremost hearing loss experts.
Hearing loss increases odds of social isolation
Studies have linked untreated hearing loss with a higher risk of loneliness and social isolation. Makes sense, right? Humans are social creatures, and when hearing, communicating, and interacting become more challenging due to hearing loss, it’s naturally easier to decline invitations, transact online, and just stay home.
While the obvious detriment to isolation is diminished quality of life, unfortunately social isolation is also a key factor that can contribute to dementia.
Treatment sooner rather than later can reduce dementia risk
Now, for the good news: Treating your hearing loss now instead of down the track can reduce your risk of cognitive decline—a fact that has been proven by research. In fact, the Lancet Commission on Dementia, Prevention, Intervention and Care has named hearing loss the number one modifiable risk factor found to prevent dementia.
Let’s face it: The devastation of dementia is real for those who have it and the people who love them. And when there is an easy and painless preventative measure we can take right now—which is getting our hearing tested and treating any hearing loss we may have—the question is:
Why wait?
Why wait, when the first step towards maintaining our best lives with the people we love is as simple making an appointment with a licensed hearing care professional? Experts recommend having your hearing screened every three years once you’re 50, anyway, so, you can feel empowered to make the evaluation part of your annual health checks.
Hearing tests are simple and pain-free. And if it turns out you do have hearing loss, a hearing care professional will walk you through your options and help you choose the one that is best for you. Simply type your zip code in here to find a provider near you.
Don’t wait another 10, or even five years: Treat your hearing loss today and enjoy the greater tomorrow you deserve.