Treating Hearing Loss Is Important For Alzheimer's and Dementia

By Hearing Professionals

Hearing Professionals Inc.

. http://www.hearing-professionals.com/

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Treating Hearing Loss Is Important For Alzheimer's and Dementia

Turning to see the person talking; moving closer to the speaker; withdrawing from social activities; complaining that people mumble; strain on family and personal relationships; fatigued; hearing but not understanding what's being said; asking people to repeat themselves; prone to anxiety and/or depression; difficulty understanding conversation in a group setting; inability to focus and pay attention; and, giving unrelated responses to conversation.

If you guessed these are symptoms of hearing loss, you're only half right. Actually, these symptoms also could be used to describe people suffering from memory loss, such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Over the last several years, research has shown a correlation between hearing loss and memory loss. According to the Hearing Loss Association of America, hearing loss is often confused with or complicates dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Studies have shown that hearing loss not only exacerbates the symptoms of memory loss, but it could also be an important risk factor there is a correlation between the severity of cognitive decline and degree of hearing loss.

A recent article in Healthy Hearing highlighted a study completed in the 1980s that demonstrated this correlation. The study concluded that 33% of 30 patients diagnosed with senile dementia and a significant hearing loss were reclassified to a less severe category of dementia once the hearing loss was addressed. Several studies since then have had similar results and conclusions.

The brain is a muscle. It has to be “worked out” to stay sharp and alert hearing and processing sounds and speech keeps the brain stimulated and active, allowing a person to stay alert. So, treating a person's hearing loss could help deter some cognitive decline.

It is important to note however, that hearing loss doesn't mean you are going to have memory loss, nor does having memory loss mean you're going to have hearing loss.

If you or anyone you know has memory loss or is displaying symptoms of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, encourage them to be screened for hearing loss with a hearing healthcare provider.

Once appropriate treatment is implemented for hearing loss, people with memory loss can benefit more fully from music therapy, which has been shown to improve cognitive ability and failing memory.

For more information or if you think you or a loved one may have memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer's disease, speak with a healthcare provider. If you think you may have hearing loss or that it could be amplifying your memory loss, contact your local hearing healthcare provider.