Even a Mild Hearing Loss Contributes to Cognitive Decline  

While we hear with our ears, we actually listen with our brains. When hearing loss sets in it becomes hard to follow conversations because our brain receives limited information and must work harder to piece together what is being said. This can make casual conversation and important meetings incredibly exhausting and frustrating leading many to self-isolate and withdraw from their friends and family. 

It is well known that a healthy social life as you age can keep you active, connected and prevent or delay the onset of dementia. However hearing loss can sabotage your social life and ultimately affect the precious memories of your life. While many studies have linked cognitive decline to an increased likeliness of dementia, a recent study has shown that even a mild case of hearing loss can significantly lead to cognitive decline. 

What Classifies a Mild Case of Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss is a progressive condition, starting slowly, affecting subtle aspects of hearing before it develops into a noticeable condition. Because of this, hearing loss is often not noticeable at all for years. Perhaps you find that it is hard for you to hear a person whispering, the speech of people with very high or low pitched voices, birds chirping outside or the wind blowing the leaves in the trees. These sounds are so subtle it is easy to go years until you have noticed how much hearing ability you have lost. This mild form of hearing loss allows people to follow conversations easily in quiet environments but struggle to hear the same conversation in a crowd, full of background noise.

Mild Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

A 2019 study published in the JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery journal examined over 6,400 participants over 50 and compared hearing loss with cognitive performance. The study found a very clear link between participants with hearing loss and reduced cognitive function, finding that the more severe the hearing loss, the more extreme the cognitive decline.  Study participants with a mild hearing loss of 25dB or less were found to be affected cognitively.

Slight Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline 

Even a very slight amount of hearing loss affected cognitive ability. The study classified a slight hearing loss as 15dB and found that even with this degree participants scored lower on cognitive tests. 

Untreated Hearing Loss and the Risk of Cognitive Decline

When you are forced to struggle to use extra brainpower to listen it puts stress on your brain. Not only is this exhausting for your brain and entire body, but also takes away from other cognitive functions. Because listening is so exhausting for people even with slight hearing loss, there is often the likeliness that people will avoid new situations where struggling to hear can easily put them outside of their comfort zone. As people choose to avoid new situations and challenges their brain continues to be under stimulated. If this progresses too far it can result in the brain actually shrinking, also known as brain atrophy. Brain atrophy and under stimulation is directly connected to an increased likeliness of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Treating Hearing Loss

Studies like this illuminate the importance of dealing with your hearing loss. It is incredibly important to test your hearing at least annually to ensure that you are aware and stay on top of your hearing health. While hearing loss cannot be reversed it can be treated effectively with hearing aids. Hearing aids amplify even the slight sounds you may struggle with and send the audio information to your inner ear to be registered clearly by your brain.  

If you have found yourself having to ask people to repeat themselves more often, even in a crowd or if you struggle to hear children or people with higher pitched voices, then you may have a slight or even mild hearing loss. Don’t wait to let cognitive decline develop, potentially causing a host of emotional, physical and mental issues. Schedule a hearing test today to understand what your options are. Once you know the extent of your hearing you can make educated decisions into your hearing health and its potential effects on your mind.