Age-related hearing loss can have broad impacts across your whole life. Not only is your ability to hear impacted, but also your social life, your professional networks, and even your cognitive abilities. The way your brain works, including your memory and mood, can be substantially affected by hearing loss.
Sometimes, the link between hearing loss and cognition is subtle. For instance, one of the earliest symptoms of hearing loss may be forgetfulness, but individuals rarely think that their memory troubles are associated with a loss of hearing. Sadly, the truth is that memory loss and hearing loss are closely related.
What does loss of hearing have to do with memory? Well, hearing loss puts a distinctive strain on your brain and that’s, at least to some extent, the link. Your cognitive abilities will normally improve when you manage your hearing loss.
How memory is Affected by hearing loss
Detecting hearing loss can frequently be difficult. It’s not uncommon for people to miss the more subtle and early signs. Hearing loss may only be detected, for people in this category, when it becomes more extreme. The progression of hearing loss is usually gradual over time and that’s partly why it’s initially difficult to detect. Individuals frequently begin raising the volume on their devices more and more and tend to dismiss their symptoms.
Additionally, the human brain is very good at compensating for periodic loss of sounds. You might not notice that it’s becoming harder to understand what people are saying as a result. The positive thing about this is that your day-to-day life will have fewer disruptions. But it takes a substantial amount of brain power to compensate like this. Requiring your brain to perform at this level for long periods can result in:
- Memory loss or forgetfulness
- Unexplained irritability
- Chronic fatigue
We will be able to help you determine whether these symptoms are a result of hearing loss or not. If it’s determined that you’re dealing with hearing loss, we can help you establish the best treatment plan.
Can memory problems be the outcome of hearing loss?
Of course, this mental exhaustion isn’t the only way that hearing loss can affect your brain. Forgetfulness is frequently a prominent presentation. When hearing loss has gone untreated, this is particularly true. The cause and effect relationship is not entirely understood, but it’s clear that there is a relationship between hearing loss and the following problems:
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety: An increase in anxiety and depression as a result of untreated hearing loss is not unusual according to numerous studies. And once more, when the root hearing loss has been treated, the risk factor drops significantly.
- Social isolation: It’s not unusual for people to disengage from social contact when they have untreated hearing loss. They will often steer clear of conversations and will do things like going to self-checkout instead of talking to a cashier. Your brain will often alter the way it processes information as a result.
- Increased risk of dementia: People who have neglected hearing loss frequently have an increased danger of dementia and mental decline. When the hearing loss is effectively treated, the risk decreases substantially.
These problems aren’t unrelated, of course. Social solitude can worsen depression and other cognitive health problems. And your risk of dementia also increases with social solitude.
Does hearing loss cause cognitive decline?
Your risk of cognitive decline and dementia is increased by untreated hearing loss, and that’s one of the more severe consequences of neglecting your hearing issues. Scientists have a few theories about why this may be, but what’s obvious is that management of symptoms helps substantially. In other words, treating your hearing loss has been shown to reduce mental decline and decrease your risk of developing dementia later in life.
Dealing with hearing loss induced forgetfulness
The good news is, treating untreated hearing loss, if your forgetfulness is caused by hearing loss, will certainly help. In cases where hearing loss is detected, we might suggest the following:
- Regular screenings: Before any problems begin to occur, routine screenings can identify them. Mental strain can be avoided with early treatment.
- The use of hearing aids: Utilizing a hearing aid can help you hear better. Your social life can be improved and your cognitive abilities will have less strain by using hearing aids. By preventing and limiting social isolation, your cognition can improve, lowering your risk of dementia, depression, and other problems.
- Hearing protection: Some of the mental decline previously mentioned can be avoided and additional damage can be decreased by using hearing protection.
You can improve your memory
If hearing loss is causing you to be a little forgetful, it’s worthwhile to emphasize that it doesn’t need to stay that way. In many instances, mental functions will come back once your brain doesn’t need to strain so hard. When your brain doesn’t need to work as hard to hear, the rest can be really helpful.
Make an appointment with us so that we can help you substantially improve your outlook and decrease your risk of other issues.