The dangers of dismissing hearing aids

Article overview:

• Research links the use of hearing aids by the elderly with a lower risk of dementia, depression, anxiety, and dangerous falls.
• Hearing loss can lead to social isolation, which increases the likelihood of developing cognitive difficulties and mood disorders.
• There are hearing aids that are almost invisible, and some devices are very inexpensive.

How hearing aids reduce dementia and anxiety

As we get older, we experience subtle changes in our bodies. It's not that we don't need glasses to read the newspaper or a menu one day, and the next day. With most signs of aging, the changes are gradual. If there is a gradual decline in our hearing, it may be easier to deny ourselves that this has happened. In this case, however, it is important to face reality and do something about it, as recent research shows that the use of hearing aids can help us prevent other serious illnesses that may have occurred in recent years.

The study, conducted at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, found that older people are less at risk of developing dementia, depression, anxiety, and fall injuries when they start wearing hearing aids. These results are based on a study that analyzed Medicare HMO data for 114,862 people, ages 66+, from 2008 to 2016. This type of insurance differs from traditional Medicare plans in that it partially covers the cost of hearing aids.

The medical records of each subject were reviewed a year before diagnosis of hearing loss and three years after to ensure that only new cases of dementia, depression, anxiety, and fall injuries were treated and existing cases excluded. During this three-year period after receiving their hearing loss diagnosis, participants who received hearing aids were found to have 18 percent less risk of dementia, 13 percent less injury risk from falls, and 11 percent less injury risk of depression or anxiety.

The loss of hearing takes a considerable toll

Why should hearing loss contribute to apparently unrelated problems like dementia, depression, and falls? With dementia, many people who cannot hear properly often become more withdrawn and isolated. As the brain is less stimulated by social connectivity, nerve impulses slow down and memory decreases.

Regarding depression and anxiety, it again seems that the problem is largely due to the withdrawal from the social environment that many older people with hearing loss are experiencing. The more time you spend alone, the greater your depression and / or fear. A 2014 study at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland found an association between hearing loss and higher rates of moderate to severe depression. The risk of falling also increases with increasing hearing loss, since the inner ear plays an essential role in maintaining balance. However, the problem is compounded by the fact that only about 12 percent of older people actually get hearing aids when they are diagnosed with hearing loss.

Prevent and manage hearing loss

At age 65, approximately 33 percent of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. If your hearing is still completely intact – and you know it through an audiological assessment – that's great, but you have to do everything you can to protect it. One of the main causes of hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. It can occur not only from expected sources such as the high decibel values ​​at a concert, but also from everyday situations such as work (e.g. in construction) and listening to loud music on headphones or even walking around regularly in a busy city. Buy earplugs to prevent loud noises around you from damaging sensitive nerve cells in your ears.

If you already have hearing loss, getting a diagnosis is not enough. Consider equipping yourself with a hearing aid. There is a large selection of models and many are very discreet. If your insurance does not cover the cost and is outside your price range, look for an over-the-counter sound amplification device. While not as discreet, they can be very effective and help prevent dementia, mood disorders, and falls, all of which are associated with hearing loss.