Untreated hearing loss impairs cognitive abilities
Hearing loss in old age is very common. However, it should not be taken lightly: Untreated age-related hearing loss can affect health and cognitive abilities.
The most common type of hearing loss is age-related hearing loss. If you notice as you get older that your hearing is no longer working properly, you are not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 360 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, and one-third of them are over the age of 65. Yet good hearing is especially important in old age for maintaining quality of life—playing with grandchildren, traveling, and chatting with friends and acquaintances. That’s why it’s important to take care of your earsand seek treatment early on. Because if the brain doesn’t receive certain auditory stimuli for an extended period, it forgets how to process them. You could also say that the ear forgets.
Hearing Loss as a Health Risk
Poor hearing in old age accelerates the decline in cognitive abilities and can impair health—if long-term treatmentis not provided.
British scientists have examined nine risk factors for various forms of dementia. According to their findings, hearing loss in middle-aged people accounts for about 9 percent of the risk. This makes hearing lossthe strongest risk factor. This is followed by lack of education, smoking, depression, lack of exercise, and social isolation. In fact, most people’s hearing begins to change as early as age 40. Sensitivity to sound—especially high-pitched sounds—is the first thing to decline.
In addition to age, noise is one of the most common causesof hearing loss. A study conducted in the Canadian province of Ontario shows that high noise exposure also increases the risk of developing dementia. For people whose homes were located no more than 50 meters from a high-traffic road, the risk increased by seven percent over an 11-year period compared to people living in quieter areas.
Don’t Be Afraid of Hearing Aids
Despite potential risks, many people still hesitate to admit they have hearing loss and seek treatment. But there’s no reason to feel uncomfortable about it. Today’s hearing aidsare true technological marvels. Modern hearing systems not only restore the hearing experience, but also significantly improve the wearer’s quality of life as well as their personal and physical well-being.
Are you noticing the first signs that your hearing isn't what it used to be? If so, it's high time to see a hearing care professionalor an ENT doctor. And if you're not sure? Just take our online hearing testright here on the platform.
