According to a 2016 study by Jamie Desjardins, PhD, an assistant professor in the speech-language pathology program at The University of Texas at El Paso, hearing aids can boost brain function in those with hearing loss.
It is well-known that hearing loss, if left untreated, can lead to emotional and social consequences, reduced job performance, and lower quality of life. But in recent years, the scientific community has been learning more about the impacts of this common condition on the health of the brain as it ages. In several studies, researchers have found that untreated hearing loss can interfere with cognitive abilities because so much mental effort is diverted toward understanding speech. It is believed that this additional burden on the brain increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
“If you have some hearing impairment and you’re not using hearing aids, maybe you can figure out what the person has said, but that comes with a cost,” said Desjardins in a recent university announcement. “You may actually be using the majority of your cognitive resources – your brain power – in order to figure out that message.”
Although these findings are concerning, the good news is that scientists believe treating hearing can improve brain function and reduce one’s risk of developing dementia. A team of researchers from the UK, after completing a similar study, recently stated they believe hearing aids can reduce this risk by up to nine percent.
About the Texas study
Desjardins explained that as we age, our primary cognitive skills – working memory, the ability to discern speech in a noisy environment, or the speed at which we can process information – begins to decline. Hearing loss affects over 9 million Americans over the age of 65 and 10 million Americans ages 45 to 64, but only about 20 percent of people who could benefit from hearing aids wear them, he said.
To examine the hearing loss-brain function link, Desjardins studied a group of individuals in their 50s and 60s with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who had previously never used hearing aids. Study participants took cognitive tests to measure their working memory, selective attention, and processing speed abilities prior to and after using hearing aids.
After two weeks of using hearing aids, participants displayed an increase in percent scores for recalling words in working memory and selective attention tests, and the processing speed at which they selected the correct response was faster. By the end of the study, participants had shown significant improvement in their cognitive function.
“Most people will experience hearing loss in their lifetime,” Desjardins said. “Think about somebody who has hearing loss and is still working and they’re not wearing hearing aids. They are spending so much of their brainpower just trying to focus on listening. They may not be able to perform their job as well. Or if they can, they’re exhausted because they are working so much harder. They are more tired at the end of the day, because it’s a lot more taxing. It affects their quality of life.”
Hearing aids linked with better memory scores in SENSE-Cog study
In another study undertaken by American researchers on behalf of the SENSE-Cog group, it was revealed that memory scores improved in older adults who wore hearing aids. Data for the study was taken from Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which measured cognitive performance repeatedly every 2 years over 18 years (1996–2014). The participants were adults aged 50 or older.
The study also revealed that decline in memory scores slowed after hearing aids began to be used. The researchers were positive about what these findings could mean for those with hearing loss, and the potential of early treatment to help reduce dementia rates. “Providing hearing aids or other rehabilitative services for hearing impairment much earlier in the course of hearing impairment may stem the worldwide rise of dementia,” the researchers stated.
Other benefits of hearing aids
Hearing aids have vastly improved in the past decade. No longer the clunky, uncomfortable, buzzy devices of the past, they are now discreet, comfortable, and fully customizable tools that naturally hone in on speech and can connect wirelessly to smartphones and other devices.
Not only can treating your hearing loss help your brain to stay healthy, it can also improve your life in other ways. Hearing aids have been shown to boost happiness levels, make daily communication less stressful, help to strengthen relationships with loved ones, and increase personal safety and mobility.
If you are suffering from untreated hearing loss, Desert Valley Audiology would love to help you on your journey towards better hearing and a better quality of life. Schedule your appointment today to find out more about your current state of hearing and the available treatment options. Treating your hearing loss is one of the most important things you can do to preserve your cognitive health, now and in the future.