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Can hearing loss lead to mental decline in older people?

Posted by Eamonn Brady on

Hearing loss, even when mild, can lead to mental decline in older people (Part 1)

 

Why would hearing loss lead to mental decline?

Some scientists suspect that hearing issues might lead to thinking problems because the brain must redirect so much attention to hearing so it does not get to exercise other mental functions as much.

 

People with hearing problems use more brainpower to decode the words that are said, they don’t get to process the meaning of what was said, which is the intellectually stimulating part,” according to the study’s lead author, Dr Justin Golub.

 

Dr Golub compares brain fitness to physical fitness. If runners had to think about how to take each step, they wouldn’t get very fast, he explained. Similarly, parts of the brain involved in complex thinking don’t get as much “exercise” when more resources are directed to decoding the words in a conversation.

 

Beyond that, it’s was shown that “people with worse hearing socialise less – as hearing loss makes socialising more difficult - and thus have fewer intellectually stimulating conversations

 

So could a hearing aid help mental ability in older people

After accounting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors - both of which can increase likelihood of developing cognitive problems - researchers determined that decreased hearing ability was associated with worse performance on the cognitive tests.

 

Dr Golub suspects that people might be able to remain more mentally sharp if they started wearing hearing aids as soon as they started to have even mild issues with hearing. Dr Maura Cosetti, director of the Cochlear Implant Centre at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary explains that unfortunately, many people who have developed hearing problems are unwilling to use a hearing aid, “It’s something ingrained in our culture,” she added.

 

Free Hearing Tests and affordable hearing aids at Whelehans Pharmacy

Hearing tests are available free of charge in Whelahans Pearse St, Mullingar weekly by a qualified Blackberry Hearing audiologist. If you or your loved one has hearing concerns call the friendly team at our Blackberry Hearing HQ on 01-6978470 to book in for a free hearing consultation. PRSI Grant of €1,000 available on a pair of hearing aids.

About Blackberry Hearing

As the only Irish owned nationwide supplier of hearing aids with over 50 clinics nationwide, the company is renowned for its strong customer care philosophy, including:

·         Transparent and affordable pricing. All prices and grant details are shared with you before you visit the clinic and prices start at €499 per aid with the grant.

·         Friendly and professional staff. For example; our audiologists are highly qualified (BSc or MSc degree)

·         The best products. For example; the Evoke 440 is the World’s first smart” hearing aid and probably the world’s most advanced hearing aid.

·         Excellent Customer Care. For example; We also offer guaranteed satisfaction or your money back and 4 years Free follow ups.

Whelehans Ear Wax Removal Service (Pricing and Booking)

Ear Wax Removal Service now available to book online at Whelehans Pharmacy. Our qualified nurse Sarah uses painless and non invasive Tympa technology. it only takes a few minutes to get checked and if ear wax blockage, price is €50 to get one ear unblocked or €75 for both ears unblocked. €20 assessment fee is then not charged ( refunded) if wax removal needed.

 

Thanks to Reuters Health and research published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (November 2019) for information for this article

 

For comprehensive and free health advice and information call in to Whelehans Pharmacies, log on to www.whelehans.ie or dial 04493 34591 (Pearse St) or 04493 10266 (Clonmore).

 


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