THE COGNITIVE CONNECTION
Dementia and Hearing Loss
For every 1-point increase in the hearing impairment scale, the likelihood of developing dementia five years later increases by 22%.¹
For many years now scientists have been diligently researching Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia to better understand how to fight it. Across multiple studies, it has been discovered that hearing plays a key role in maintaining a healthy brain. The less you can hear, the more your brain will struggle.
According to a recent study by John’s Hopkins:
“When you are listening to someone speak, your brain is processing the sound, so you can understand it. A listener with untreated hearing loss is trying to understand degraded speech signals, therefore, their brain must work harder to process those sounds. While your brain is busy working to understand incoming speech signals, other tasks, like memory and comprehension, can suffer”.
Windsor Audiology has the pleasure of partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association. This amazing non-profit provides a variety of excellent resources for families and individuals battling all forms of dementia, free of charge. Many individuals are unaware of these wonderful resources. Our team would like to highlight the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as links to some of their most valuable resources.
- Support for Caregivers
- Support for those in Colorado
- Local Support Groups
- Online Tools
- Volunteer to Help
The Alzheimer’s Association also has a 24-hour hotline for immediate support. 800-272-3900
¹ Hearing Loss as a Risk Factor for Dementia: A Systematic Review