When it comes to our overall health, it’s not always easy to see the connection between different aspects of our health. For example, in the case of high blood pressure, you wouldn’t necessarily feel any different than if your blood pressure was normal. Internally, however, higher blood pressure can gradually damage and narrow your arteries which in turn could result in stroke, heart disease, or kidney disease. This is why it’s important to have an annual physical to prevent an underlying condition from turning into a more serious health problem.
How Hearing Loss Impacts Overall Health
As with our blood pressure, it is difficult to detect small increments of hearing loss as it develops. It may not seem like hearing loss is immediately connected with serious physical disorders and cognitive decline, but studies show that a connection exists.
For example, a study by Johns Hopkins University discovered that those with hearing loss experienced a 30-40 percent faster decline in cognitive function compared to those with normal hearing. The study also found that the rate of cognitive decline was higher as the severity of hearing loss increased.
Researchers believe there are three potential explanations for the link between hearing loss and brain decline:
- Hearing loss can bring about social isolation and depression, both of which are acknowledged risk factors for mental decline.
- Hearing loss forces the brain to shift resources away from memory and thinking to the processing of fainter sounds.
- Hearing loss is a symptom of a common underlying injury to the brain that also impairs intellectual ability.
Additional studies by Johns Hopkins University and other institutions have revealed further connections between hearing loss and depression, memory problems, a higher risk of falls, and even dementia.
Better Hearing & Better Health
Having high blood pressure can either be catastrophic to your health or it can be taken care of. Diet, exercise, and medication (if required) can lower the pressure and preserve the health and integrity of your arteries. Hearing loss can likewise create problems or can be addressed.
What researchers have discovered is that hearing aids can minimize or reverse the effects of cognitive decline by revitalizing the brain with enhanced sound. Enhanced hearing has been linked with elevated social, mental, and physical health, and the gains in hearing strengthen relationships and improve conversations.
So if you’re having any difficulty hearing, we encourage you to schedule a hearing evaluation to determine if you may be suffering from even a mild form of hearing loss which if left untreated could lead to more problems down the road. Our doctors of audiology can work with you to determine what your best options are and help you select a hearing aid that will work best for your type of hearing loss and fit with your lifestyle and budget.