Hearing Loss and Cognitive Function: What's the Relation

Hearing loss affects one in every three people aged 65 or older and is the third most common health condition among this group of Americans. It is also a common occurrence among the general population, so it’s not just an issue of getting old. There are a variety of factors that contribute to hearing loss, whether you’re young or old, including noise exposure, aging, heredity and infections such as ear infections, not to mention health conditions affecting blood flow to the ears.

Here are some interesting facts about Hearing Aids:

• Approximately 15% of American adults (37.5 million) aged 18 and over report some trouble hearing.

• About 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids

• Among adults aged 70 and older with hearing loss who could benefit from hearing aids, fewer than one in three (30 percent) has ever used them.

•  Even fewer adults aged 20 to 69 (approximately 16 percent) who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.

• Hearing loss is associated with increased risk of balance disorders, falling and cognitive decline.

• The average delay between first noticing hearing issues and seeking help is 7 years.  Treating hearing loss when it is mild results in better function and future outcomes.

• Wearing a hearing aid will make your hearing loss less obvious because you stay engaged in conversations and participate in activities.

Information taken from The National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIDCD) and Betterhearing.org