Hearing well keeps your brain fit

Hearing well helps keep you active, involved, independent and healthy. Hearing is essential for communication, memory and safety. Unfortunately, gradual hearing loss as you age (presbyacusis) is one of the most common conditions affecting older adults. One in three people over the age of 65 are likely to be affected by hearing loss. Some people also have hearing loss due to working in noisy environments, or genetic causes.

Having trouble hearing can affect your confidence in groups and meetings, make it hard to enjoy social gatherings with family and friends, and lead to isolation and misunderstanding. Hearing loss in adulthood is also linked to higher rates of unemployment, depression, and greater cognitive decline.

So the big questions is – can hearing aids help reverse this negative trend? Yes! A large-scale cross-sectional study of UK adults by Piers Dawes in 2015 found that hearing aid use was associated with better cognition. The Lancet Commission Report on Dementia in 2017 has also listed hearing loss as one of the top modifiable factors for increased risk of dementia.

If you, or someone you love, seems to be having hearing problems, book in for hearing check. If hearing loss is confirmed, look into getting some hearing aid technology. The earlier you start the better, in terms of brain benefits, getting used to them, and managing them. There are lots of discreet, affordable and comfortable models available.

And if you have hearing aids – be sure you wear them every day! Your brain needs a consistent signal to acclimatise to the real world of sounds. Hearing aids need to be adjusted and serviced regularly. Modern hearing technology can easily be reprogrammed to hearing changes and your individual needs and preferences. 

Call today for an appointment with Teresa Burns, Doctor of Audiology, (09) 475 9849.