Losing one’s hearing is certainly hard enough, but losing cognitive abilities adds another level of loss. If you find yourself straining to hear and then not feeling as sharp as you once did, it’s not a surprise that the two can go hand-in-hand.
Long-term observational studies have linked untreated hearing loss with faster cognitive decline and a higher risk of dementia. These studies show a close association between brain health and hearing health.
How Hearing and the Brain Work Together
Hearing and your brain’s functions are closely aligned, even inseparable. Though hearing happens in your ears, cognition and understanding happen in your brain. When hearing declines and sounds become muffled or distinguishing words become difficult, the brain must work harder to fill in the gaps. That’s often referred to as a cognitive load. The cognitive load your brain has to handle becomes more complex, and other functions, such as reasoning, focus, and memory, may become compromised. It’s like running too many programs on your computer at one time or too many apps on your phone.
Cognitive health refers to our ability to think clearly, remember information, concentrate, make decisions, and process the world around us. Even mild cognitive impairment can significantly affect one’s quality of life. While age, genetics, and overall health all play a role in cognitive decline, hearing loss has emerged as one of the most significant—and importantly, controllable — risk factors.
What Happens with Untreated Hearing Loss
When hearing loss goes untreated and the brain works harder, over time, this constant strain may contribute to changes in brain structure and function. Long-term hearing loss may reduce stimulation to auditory pathways, which can potentially accelerate structural and functional changes to the brain.
Researchers have also found that people with untreated hearing loss are more likely to withdraw from social activities, leading to isolation and reduced mental stimulation—both of which are known to negatively affect brain health. Feeling distressed or ashamed about not hearing conversations well can be a cause of social withdrawal. Always asking people to repeat themselves may cause embarrassment and may lead to decreasingly less social interactions.
Overall, better hearing supports better day-to-day thinking. Clearer sounds and the ability to recognize words mean your brain will spend less effort decoding words, so there is more “brain power” for comprehension, reasoning, and memory.
Important Steps to Take
What can you do to support your brain health? It’s not just eating well, sleeping enough, exercising, and engaging in social activity – you need to take care of your hearing. Do things that protect your hearing, such as avoiding loud noise. If you can’t avoid loud noise, take protective measures like wearing ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
If you detect hearing loss, get a hearing exam sooner rather than later. It might be something as simple as an untreated buildup of ear wax. If a hearing aid is called for, there are many kinds of devices that are available, and a professional audiologist can help you find the right one with the best fit for you.
At Pacific Audiology Clinic, our team provides expert hearing aid services for the people of Portland and Beaverton.