IN Hampton Fall 2016 | Page 33

INDUSTRY INSIGHT HEARING SPONSORED CONTENT An important part of this study was that all the participants who wore hearing aids wore their own hearing aids; the type of hearing aid was not part of the study. Wearing hearing aids can stimulate cognitive activity. It doesn’t have to be the most advanced or expensive, it can be virtually any hearing aid. Past studies have shown a significant increase of understanding speech when a person with hearing loss in both ears wears hearing aids in both ears. The best way to find out what you need is to make an appointment with your local audiologist. At Rametta Audiology & Hearing Aid Center we do a thorough case history, test your eardrums and middle ear function as well as a complete hearing evaluation to include detailed speech testing so we may give you realistic expectations for your success with hearing instruments. If hearing aids are found to be a solution, we have a proven 50-year approach to helping you be successful. We take our time and allow your brain to adapt to your new hearing and have an incredibly high success rate. Give us a call today and make your appointment or visit us online at www.RamettaHearing.com. Hearing Aids Reduce the Risk of Cognitive Decline H ave you ever wondered why a family member seems so confused? Is it dementia, Alzheimer’s or maybe something worse? It could be something simple, hearing loss! A new 25year study has found that wearing hearing aids may reduce cognitive decline associated with hearing loss. This study has given rise to a new way of thinking about hearing as part of our overall health. The study, published in the October edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, compared the trajectory of cognitive decline among older adults who were using hearing aids and those who were not. No difference was found in the rate of cognitive decline between a group of people with no reported hearing loss and those with hearing loss who wore hearing aids on a regular basis. However, those who reported hearing loss but did not use hearing aids had significantly lower baseline scores. What does this mean? It shows that reduced informatio