INDUSTRY INSIGHT

YOUR HEARING

UNTREATED HEARING LOSS You are losing more than just your hearing .

By Megan Myers , Au . D ., CCC-A , Swift Audiology

Aging is inevitable , growing up is optional , and staying cognitively sharp is mandatory . At a certain age , people begin to become bombarded with mail and fliers for hearing exams and hearing devices . But why ? Why is it so important for a person to keep his / her ears healthy ? It is not so much keeping the ears and hearing healthy as it is keeping the brain functioning . Many people do not realize the true link between our hearing and cognitive function .

My patients are surprised when I go into detail about hearing with our brain and not our ears . They often crack a joke , “ So that ’ s what ’ s wrong with me ?” or look at me so intently like they want to know more . Well , the truth is : our ability to hear comes from our ears ; our ability to understand and process sounds comes from our brain .

Multiple studies have been and continue to be conducted showing a link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline ( i . e . dementia / Alzheimer ’ s ). Our ears are responsible for collecting the sound , and our nerve of hearing sends the sound to our brain . The brain is responsible for processing the sound and interpreting the message . If damage occurs to the nerve of hearing , the sound is not fully processed and the message is not interpreted as intended . With hearing loss , as it worsens and remains untreated , the brain is deprived of normal auditory messages and forgets how to understand speech properly — much like muscles atrophy when a person stops using them .

A study conducted at Johns Hopkins Institute found that people with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia and / or cognitive deficits than those who retain their hearing as they age . It also states that hearing loss can lead to isolation of people socially . Many researchers believe that auditory deprivation and social isolation with untreated hearing loss can put that individual more at risk for deterioration of the brain , leading to a lower cognitive function .

Sergei Kochkin of the Better Hearing Institute ( BHI ) in Washington , D . C ., has stated , “ When hearing loss is left unaddressed , it can significantly compound the challenges that people with Alzheimer ’ s and their caregivers already face , but in many cases the appropriate use of hearing aids can benefit people with Alzheimer ’ s .” Untreated hearing loss can decrease the cognitive processing in spoken language and sound . BHI also states that research has shown that the use of hearing aids has helped reduce the symptoms of depression , passivity , negativism , disorientation , anxiety , social isolation , feelings of helplessness , loss of independence and general cognitive decline in people with known cognitive deficits .

As a Doctor of Audiology , I find that a patient ’ s loved ones typically become frustrated by hearing loss long before the actual patient acknowledges that he or she is experiencing any loss . As we age , hearing loss gradually declines , which

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more than just

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Dr . Nicole Schott , Board Certified Doctor of Audiology - Your Audiologist in Allison Park and North Hills