It’s a known fact that as you get older, you will experience a level of cognitive decline. For some, it may be mild, but for others, it can be more serious. Even though this is all a normal part of aging, it’s important to know that there are risks associated with it. You may find that you end up forgetting small details and that you take longer to learn new things. It’s also possible that you will have difficulty concentrating. Although you might not be able to stop cognitive decline, you can prevent it from getting worse. The great news is that as experts broaden their understanding of hearing loss and cognitive, it helps in delaying the onset of cognitive decline.
Cognitive Load
With untreated hearing loss, the brain will become overworked by constant strain. You may find it difficult to understand both speech and sound as well. One thing to take note of is that an overworked brain doesn’t work as efficiently as it could. This can lead to several issues later down the line.
Brain Structure
Another has to do with brain structure. Brain cells often shrink as a result of poor stimulation. This includes the part of the brain that is responsible for hearing and storing sound. One way to combat this would be for you to make sure that you are getting enough stimulation daily, but this can be difficult when you cannot hear the people around you properly. This is why cognitive decline is linked to hearing loss. If you are struggling to hear the people around you, contact your audiologist.
Social Isolation
When an individual has an issue with hearing conversations, they may prefer to stay home instead. The more isolated an individual becomes, the less stimulation they get. It’s easy to see how this can snowball and lead to more issues later down the line, including depression and anxiety. To combat this, schedule an appointment with an audiologist as they can help to find the right style of hearing aids for your hearing needs. This will help with hearing other clearly and engaging in social situations.
Dementia
Dementia is not the only conditions that have strong links to hearing loss. Research has shown that it is also linked to a number of other conditions. This includes heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Chronic kidney disease is also linked. Experts have said that one of the best things you can do to prevent issues such as this is to keep your brain and your body healthy.
How Hearing Aids Can Slow Down Cognitive Decline
If you have hearing loss, then you may find that hearing aids are the best way for you to slow down cognitive decline. If you can take the time to visit your audiologist, then they will be able to assess what level of hearing loss you have. From there, they can then recommend a hearing aid that supports your health. An audiologist may recommend an in-the-ear (ITE), behind-the-ear (BTE) or in-the-canal (ITC) hearing aid, each have their own unique features and are personalized to the severity of your hearing loss.