Understanding the Relationship Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Reviewed by Dr. Porter on February 20, 2019

As time goes by, it’s natural for people to experience some health problems that affect their mobility, work performance and physical capabilities. Thankfully, advancements in medical technology have made it possible for people to better understand some of the most serious conditions and diseases that affect people as they age to develop better treatment methods and help people experience a better quality of life into their old age. One of the biggest areas of study over the last several years has been the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Read on to find out more about this subject and what hearing doctors in Pierce County, WA are doing to help people maintain healthy hearing over the long term.

How hearing loss affects cognitive decline

Hearing loss is a common problem, especially among older Americans, and people are beginning to better understand the basic ways in which hearing loss can affect quality of life. Hearing loss can make it challenging for people to keep up with conversations, it may prevent them from communicating over the phone and it can make it more difficult for people to enjoy their favorite hobbies and pastimes, like listening to music or attending live performances. What a lot of people don’t realize is that these things can have a significant impact on a person’s cognitive functioning and may contribute to cognitive decline.

Numerous studies have identified hearing loss as a risk factor for cognitive diseases like dementia. As people become disconnected from the world around them because of hearing loss, their minds are less engaged, and they may experience accelerated cognitive decline. People who struggle to keep up with conversations or are unable to perform at work or other daily activities commonly experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and a lack of fulfillment that can significantly affect cognitive functioning.

Preventing cognitive decline

People can’t necessarily prevent hearing loss completely, but there are things that they can do to ensure that their hearing loss doesn’t take a major toll on their cognitive health as they age. The most important thing for people to do is to get regular hearing screenings. A hearing doctor in Pierce County, WA will be able to determine the extent of the hearing loss and recommend hearing aids and other hearing devices to help address the issue. Hearing aids have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of cognitive decline in patients who have hearing loss and they can help improve patients’ overall quality of life.

Contact a hearing doctor in Pierce County, WA

If you have questions about hearing loss or you want to schedule a hearing test with a hearing doctor in Pierce County, WA, reach out to Harbor Audiology & Hearing Services Inc. Since 1998, we’ve been proud to provide exceptional treatment for our patients who are experiencing hearing loss. We carry an extensive selection of hearing devices so that you can find the option that’s perfect for your specific needs. Reach out to us today to get started with a consultation and a hearing test.

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