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Hearing Loss & Dementia/Alsheimers
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Posted on: 4th Feb 2014
As a hearing loss sufferer I have personal experience with a facet of the malady that the public doesn�t know much about and that is the growing medical evidence that untreated hearing loss can be a direct precursor to the onset of dementia/Alzheimer�s. And the young are not immune. The earlier it starts the sooner it gets worse.
The problem stems from the tendency of many hearing loss sufferers to become depressed over their inability to interact well with others and instead isolate themselves which in turn produces loneliness and a feeling of abandonment, real or imagined. I had a situation some time ago where I was invited to a play in a building where the acoustics and sound system were quite poor and I may as well not have bothered because I couldn�t understand 80% of the dialogue. I've avoid those kinds of situations most of the time in the past.
Another area I�ve been familiar with is trying to be a participant in any kind of special interest group. If the group leader is a very rapid speaker I would probably miss most of what they were saying and if rude people near me were holding conversations while another person had the floor, it was almost impossible for me to concentrate on the speaker. That would happen often in church settings. When it came to TV shows or watching a movie, if the character speaking had a rapid speech characteristic and a British accent, well, let�s just say I didn't usually watch �Elementary� on Thursday nights.
Without my hearing instruments however my problems would be far worse and that�s the case for many people who don�t know they have hearing loss or are in denial. Hearing instrument assistance makes it possible for me to still lead an active social life even in noisy environments but for those who choose instead to withdraw the prognosis is not good.
The brain, like any other part of our body, requires stimulation to remain sharp. When it is starved for intellectual interaction with others it will, like any muscle, begin to atrophy and forget how to listen and remember, resulting in reduced cognizance. When that happens early onset dementia is on the horizon, which in a worst case scenario can lead to full blown Alzheimer�s. Although still inconclusive, medical science has made tremendous strides in the last decade in sounding the alarm about the apparent correlation between hearing loss and far more serious complications.
On the plus side hearing aid technology has progressed tremendously in the last decade to the point where today one can purchase hearing aids with an electronic device called a T-Coil which, when coupled with an induction hearing loop, can direct audio input straight to someone's hearing aids so they never miss a thing. And Bluetooth devices can do this in a wireless format.
No matter what your age, it definitely pays to be aware of potential damage to your hearing. Ease up on the loud music, wear protective ear gear when needed.
You'll be glad you did.
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