What Does Hearing Loss Do To Your Brain

As we get older, it becomes quite common for us to experience age-related hearing loss or cognitive impairment. However, researchers have found that there may be a link between hearing loss and cognition, which may be a sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

Research shows that individuals with hearing loss are two times more likely to develop cognitive impairment than individuals with normal hearing.

Follow along as El Dorado Hearing helps you understand the connection between hearing loss and cognitive impairment.

What is cognitive impairment?

In our later years, the nerve connections between cells in the brain become lost or damaged. When this happens, the individual undergoes a process referred to as cognitive decline.

This cognitive impairment can present itself differently amongst individuals:

• The individual begins forgetting things regularly.
• The individual forgets important dates or events.
• The individual constantly loses their train of thought.
• The individual becomes overwhelmed when making decisions trying to understand instructions.

While cognitive impairment can happen naturally as we age, researchers have extensively examined how age-related hearing loss and brain function are connected.

The connection between hearing loss and cognitive impairment

When an individual hears, it brings them a sense of awareness of their surroundings and allows them to communicate with those around them. While the ear is the channel that hears the sound, we rely on our brains to process the noise. To hear correctly, both the ear and brain need to be working properly.

If an individual experiences nerve-type or sensorineural hearing loss, the nerves that are in charge of sending sounds through the ear and to the brain become impaired. As a result, the brain cannot correctly process the sound, making it difficult for the individual to understand what others are saying.

While the link between hearing loss and cognitive impairment is still being researched, one theory is that hearing loss leads to a decreased input to the brain. Because of this, the brain is relied on less and less for sound processing, which results in a cognitive decline.

Another theory is that cognitive decline impacts the individual’s ability to process sound, which leads to hearing loss.

Can hearing aids prevent cognitive decline?

Although the connection between hearing loss and cognitive impairment is still being researched, there are numerous other problems that hearing loss contributes to, including depression, cognitive impairment, isolation, and anxiety.

By treating your hearing loss, you not only potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline but lower the chances of these other health issues. The sooner you get your hearing loss treated with hearing aids, the better it will be for your brain and memory.

Schedule a hearing test with El Dorado Hearing of Tucson

To assist in managing your hearing loss, we provide complete hearing evaluations at El Dorado Hearing. Our hearing specialists are highly experienced and provide you with an in-depth hearing assessment to evaluate whether you have hearing loss and the extent to which the loss affects you.

We’ll help you find the right hearing aids to restore your hearing and help minimize the risk of cognitive impairment as you get older.

For personalized hearing testing in Tucson, AZ, make El Dorado Hearing of Tucson first on your list. We strive to make our hearing offices comfortable where everyone feels welcome.

If you are ready to regain control of your hearing, visit us at one of our hearing clinics. Contact us today to set up an appointment with one of our caring and expert hearing specialists!