Seeking Hearing Loss Treatment Could Help Prevent or Delay Dementia

In the past, many experts believed that nothing could be done about dementia, and indeed there is no known cure that is effective for everyone at this time. However, to consider dementia as simply beyond our control might be too simplistic.

A recent study has discovered a variety of factors that are related to lower rates of dementia at the level of the population. Although this study is not a promise that those who abide by these factors will certainly not develop dementia individually, these preventative effects are the best way to take control of dementia to the best of our ability.

Let’s look at the variety of factors that can limit the risk of dementia as well as one specific factor that is easy to achieve: treating hearing loss.

Risk Factors for Dementia

The 2020 Alzheimer's Association International Conference brought together a team of 28 global experts on dementia to combine research findings about risk factors for the condition.

In the past, nine factors were found to cause a higher risk of dementia: less education early in life, hearing loss in mid-life, diabetes later in life, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, social isolation, and physical inactivity. This recent panel added three new factors: head injury in mid-life, air pollution in later life, and excessive alcohol intake.

Some of these risk factors are beyond our control in most cases, such as early-life education and exposure to air pollution. However, many of these other factors are within our ability to make healthy lifestyle changes. Some of the lifestyle changes that the panel suggested to reduce the risk of dementia included lowering blood pressure, reducing exposure to second-hand smoke, preventing head injury through wearing helmets and personal protective equipment, limiting alcohol intake, quitting smoking, increasing physical activity, and developing healthy dietary habits.

In addition to all these other factors of a healthy lifestyle, one more simple change can reduce the risk of developing dementia later in life as well as preventing the cognitive decline once dementia occurs: treating hearing loss.

The experts at this conference predicted that modifying these lifestyle factors could delay or prevent 40 percent of dementia cases. With these striking results, let’s take a look at what you can do to pursue hearing loss treatment.

Hearing Loss Treatment

The first consideration when it comes to hearing loss treatment is, oddly enough, prevention. If you can stop hearing loss before it occurs, then you will not need to worry about the heightened risk of dementia that comes with hearing loss.

One of the best ways to prevent hearing loss is to wear hearing protection when you are in contexts that pose a risk for hearing loss. Some of these contexts that pose a risk of hearing loss include loud concerts, dance clubs, and large sporting events, but workplaces can pose a threat, as well.

Beyond these contexts that seem like obvious risks of hearing loss, one of the hidden threats of hearing loss is the use of headphones and earbuds. These devices can project harmfully loud sound without seeming to be risky at all. It is essential to keep your smartphone or other device to only 70 percent of the maximum volume, particularly when the device is used for an extended period of time. Limiting the time of exposure is a good preventative strategy, as well.

What can you do if you have already developed hearing loss?

Treatment is available for many degrees and forms of hearing loss through hearing aids, and all you need to do to seek this treatment is to begin by making an appointment for a hearing test.

Once you have taken this exam, our audiologists will be able to explain the nature of your hearing loss and recommend a range of hearing aids to meet the needs of your individual lifestyle. With the recent results about the benefits of hearing loss treatment, why not begin the process of seeking treatment?

Hearing aids have new features and sound technology every day, and you will be surprised at the ways that your aids can assist your needs without disturbing your lifestyle. Preventing dementia is reason enough to begin the process of seeking treatment.