A new study by the Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute on Aging was released on January 22, 2014. This study indicates that hearing loss is not just inconvenient– it is linked to brain tissue loss in older adults. Studies in the past few years have already linked hearing loss to heart disease, Alzheimer’s risk and diabetes, but now a 10 year study proves that those with hearing loss experience an additional cubic centimeter of brain atrophy per year when compared to normal hearing subjects.
People with hearing loss also experienced more shrinkage in the superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri—parts of the brain that process sound and speech. The study was headed by by Frank Lin, PhD and associate professor at Johns Hopkins.
Lin says that this decrease in brain tissue may be a result of an “impoverished” auditory cortex, which could shrink due to lack of stimulation. But those parts don’t work alone; they also play roles in memory and sensory integration. And they have been shown to be linked with the early phases of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
“Our results suggest that hearing loss could be another ‘hit’ on the brain in many ways,” Lin said. He urges people not to ignore possible hearing loss. If hearing loss is contributing to the differences the scientists saw on the MRI scans, it should be treated before structural brain changes occur.
While studies are still being done to prove that treating the hearing loss can stop or slow those effects, there is enough evidence that treating hearing loss improves over-all health and well-being to warrant early intervention if hearing loss is suspected. The following are some common signs of hearing loss:
- People mumble or speak in a softer voice than they used to.
- You feel tired or irritable after a long conversation.
- You sometimes miss key words in a sentence
- You frequently need to ask people to repeat themselves.
- It is difficult to follow a conversation in a group or crowded place.
- Background noise in cars, restaurants, etc. bothers you or makes it impossible to carry on a conversation.
- You turn up the radio and television louder than you used to.
- It is difficult to hear a doorbell or telephone ring.
- You have difficulty with telephone conversations.
- Someone close to you has mentioned or joked that you might need a hearing aid.
Not every person will experience every one of these symptoms, but if you are experiencing more than 2 of them, it is a good idea to get your hearing checked. To schedule a free 60 minute consultation with one of our award-winning audiologists, give us a call at 801-770-0801.
