Untreated hearing loss in adults is a widespread phenomenon. An estimated 37% of all Canadian adults have some form of hearing loss, but many are unaware that they have hearing loss or that they could seek out treatment options that would improve their quality of life.
Age-related hearing loss is often gradual, meaning that many who suffer from hearing loss may ignore the signs and symptoms, even as their quality of life begins to decline. Those signs often include the individual becoming socially isolated and depressed as they struggle to maintain relationships with friends and family, struggling at the workplace, and finding that they cannot appreciate media like music the way they used to.
Left untreated, hearing loss can also have hidden risks that medical science is only beginning to understand.
Hearing Loss and Dementia
Studies from Johns Hopkins have shown a connection between hearing loss and the onset of dementia. Frank Lin, an expert with Johns Hopkins, conducted a study that tracked 639 adults across 12 years. The study came to the conclusion that mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia, moderate hearing loss tripled the risk of developing dementia, and individuals with severe hearing loss were five times more likely to develop dementia than others.
There are several reasons that hearing loss and dementia may be connected. Lin’s study used brain scans that showed that hearing loss may contribute to brain atrophy. The researcher also hypothesizes that social isolation can lead to an individual engaging their brain less often by avoiding conversations, in turn contributing to dementia.
Other Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss
The development of dementia is not the only hidden risk of hearing loss. Hearing loss can also impact your balance. When you are walking, your ears pick up on subtle cues that help with your ability to balance. When you experience hearing loss, you are less likely to pick up on these signals, increasing your risk of stumbling. Trip and fall injuries can have serious repercussions for older adults, including hospitalization, social isolation, and other negative health outcomes.
Fatigue is another risk facing adults with hearing loss. When your hearing fails to catch sounds in your environment, your brain starts working overtime to process missing information. In conversation, your brain may fill in the gaps that you do not hear yourself. The extra work can be very tiring, and you may find yourself struggling with fatigue at work or when you do a lot of socializing.
What to Do If You Suspect Hearing Loss
If you find that you are constantly turning up the volume on your devices, asking friends and family to repeat themselves, or you experience a consistent ringing in your ears, schedule a hearing test with us. Toronto Hearing Consultants is a full-service audiology clinic providing hearing tests, hearing aid fitting and programming, and repair, and earwax removal.
As part of your hearing test, we test the inner, middle, and outer ear to identify the source and severity of your hearing loss. We plot the results on an audiogram, explain what they mean, and recommend the most effective treatment methods for your type of hearing loss.
Many adults with hearing loss go years before exploring hearing aid options or taking action when they discover that their hearing may be holding them back. Delaying treatment options can increase your risk of developing dementia and worsen other hidden risks of hearing loss. Contact Toronto Hearing for personalized advice on treatment options for hearing loss.
Myths About Hearing Aids
One of the most common treatments available for hearing loss is wearing a hearing aid. Unfortunately, many delay getting hearing aids because they believe in persistent myths about this medical treatment. These are some of the myths that often stand in the way of people who need treatment for hearing loss.
#1 Hearing Aids Are Large and Visible
One of the most common hearing loss misconceptions is the image people have of a hearing aid. Many people delay getting a hearing aid because they tend to imagine a large, beige device visibly resting on top of their ear. They worry that wearing the device will age them in the eyes of their friends, co-workers, or family members.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Modern hearing aids are much more subtle, bringing a sense of style or looking more like an earbud. There are also traditional hearing aid styles that are much harder to notice, such as hearing aids that fit directly into your ear canal.
#2 Hearing Aids Amplify All Sounds
Today’s hearing aids are much more advanced than the analogue hearing aids of the past. They are digitally programmed to amplify the frequencies that you struggle most to hear. This helps prevent the wearer from becoming uncomfortable when other, louder sounds are present in addition to the sounds they struggle to hear.
#3 Hearing Aids Are Old-Fashioned
Many hearing aids now use Bluetooth technology and hearing aid apps to help the user control what and how they hear when listening to media. They can connect their hearing aid directly to electronic devices and stream audio straight to their ears.
#4 Hearing Aids Won’t Help with Tinnitus
Debunking tinnitus myths can take a long time, as there are many that persist without much evidence. However, one myth we can debunk here and now is that hearing aids do not help tinnitus. Many hearing aids have tinnitus masking. This feature creates a sound designed to provide relief from consistent ringing in your ears.
Adapting to Wearing a Hearing Aid
Owning and wearing a hearing aid may require some adjustments. Read our maintenance and cleaning tips for hearing aids if you are concerned about how to take care of your hearing aid before you get one.
In addition to taking care of your hearing aid, you may also need to adjust to listening with one. The brain plays an important role in our sensory experiences, and hearing is no exception. As the brain adapts to the new sounds amplified by your hearing aid, you may become more aware of ambient noises, experience difficulty focusing on specific sounds such as speech, or feel tired after using your hearing aid. This is the result of your hearing aid reactivating parts of your brain that have been dormant due to your hearing loss. With time, the experience will fade, and you will adjust to your new ability to hear.
Getting a hearing aid will help prevent hearing loss from leading to cognitive decline. Stop neglecting your hearing health and book a hearing test today.
