Did you know that one in three people older than 65 and 50 percent of people older than 80 have significant hearing loss? Out of those people, only one in five wears a hearing aid. It may be time to reconsider speaking to a doctor or audiologist about your hearing health and what you can do to improve your quality of life.
Recently, I attended a lecture about the Fundamentals of Hearing Health. This lecture discussed hearing loss and its connection to memory loss, social interactions and other vital health concerns. Phillip Griffin Au.D. with Now Hear This Clinic in Raleigh discussed this profound connection between hearing loss and these many concerns.
The most striking topic was that memory loss increases the risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia. A study done by Dr. Frank Lin with Johns Hopkins Medical Institute in Baltimore
In 2011 found that people with significant hearing loss have an increased risk for a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, after accounting for outside factors. The risk of diagnosed memory loss increases as hearing loss increases; mild loss increased the risk by two while severe loss increased the risk by five.
Lin said, “Hearing loss may be causally related to dementia, possibly through exhaustion of cognitive reserve, social isolation, environmental deafferentation or a combination of these pathways.”
When speaking with another person, you presume they can hear everything you are saying. With hearing loss, it may be difficult to hear a full word or sentence causing the person with hearing loss to deduce the missing word and remember the incorrect word or phrase and responding inappropriately. This inappropriate response triggers worry and concern with the other parties involved with the conversation often causing a self-diagnosis, misdiagnosis or a trip to a doctor. Without properly assessing the whole health status of an individual when evaluating for memory loss, it is possible to misdiagnose.
Professionals perform a Mini Mental Status Exam to determine a baseline of mental health. One section of this exam revolves around the recalling ability of the brain, a list is spoken to the individual and he or she is asked to repeat that list back a couple minutes later. With no context and hearing loss, the person may only hear part of a word leaving the rest up to their imagination. It is important for the professional to truly assure they heard the correct word before continuing with the exam.
How do you know if you or someone you love has hearing loss? People with diminished hearing show different signs. Some subtle signs of hearing loss may include: confusion, misdirection of sounds, dominating a conversation, general responses and an aversion to loud, busy environments.
Some of the more obvious signs can include: loud televisions, “huh” or “What?” repeatedly, cupping of the ear or responding inappropriately. All of these signs of hearing loss are important to note and talk to someone about. All levels of hearing loss can have an alternate cause and can affect a person’s ability to have a good quality of life by creating social isolation, confusion, depression, anxiety, insecurities and other significant heath problems.
After reading this you may find that you know someone, or you may find yourself questioning your own hearing health. Don’t wait any longer. It is very important to see you primary care physician, ear, nose and throat doctor or an audiologist as soon as you feel you may have some hearing loss. The sooner you see someone about your hearing loss or the hearing loss of a loved one, the sooner tests can rule out other major health issues and can begin to improve your quality of life.
For more information about this topic or other age related concerns, please contact me at 919-909-2645 or TrishO@AOSCareManagment.com.