Do you find yourself asking someone to repeat what they just said, or do you have the TV volume turned up a bit louder now? Have you had your hearing tested recently?
If not, you may want to discuss this with your doctor, as there's new research showing a strong connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. While the ear is the organ responsible for perceiving sound, the brain processes that sound. Both need to function together for cognition to happen.
What's causing the disconnect? Researchers are looking at it in two ways. One posits that input isn't reaching the brain, and that part of the brain may start to shrink. Another thought is that if people don't hear, then the brain has to work harder to compensate for the hearing loss, and that might have a negative impact on brain function.
Irrespective of which theory is correct, the association between hearing and cognition is very real, with the reality being: "You can't remember what you can't hear."
Other benefits of addressing hearing loss early include the ability to use music to trigger memories, hear the punchline of a joke to glean the mental health benefits of laughter, and avoid isolation as you stay connected with people.
Although nearly 27 million Americans age 50 and older have hearing loss, only one in seven uses a hearing aid. Hearing aid users wait, on average, 10 years before getting help for hearing loss.
Stigma, pride, and cost are many of the reasons people put off getting hearing aids. Luckily, advances in digital technology have decreased the size of hearing aids, making them more discreet. They're also less expensive and can filter out annoying background noise better than past models.
It's a good idea to get a baseline hearing test as a young adult (ages 18 to 21) as a reference point. Then continue comprehensive hearing tests starting at age 50. Addressing hearing loss early may help reduce your risk of cognitive decline later.
