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Treat Your Hearing Loss for Your Brain Health

Last update on Jun, 17, 2020

The link between hearing and cognition

You may have heard that the eyes are a window to the soul, but have you ever thought of the ears being a pathway to the brain? Well its true. Researchers have found there is a link between hearing and cognition – the brain’s process of perceiving and understanding. Learn more about how prompt treatment of hearing loss could keep your brain function healthy.

How does hearing affect the brain?

Thanks to magnetic imaging, scientists can watch the brain and see how it activates in response to certain sounds. They've discovered that we don't hear with just one part of our brain. The process of hearing also stimulates other brain areas. Scientists believe there's a dual-track association between hearing and cognition. Sound activates the auditory cortex; then the cerebral cortex and cognitive processes influence how we hear.

How does hearing loss impact the brain?

Because there is a decline in sound stimuli and sensory deprivation, hearing loss can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain. These structural and functional changes can affect the brain's capacity to process and perceive sounds and may contribute to cognitive decline.

The brain is forced to compensate for these losses by activating alternative circuits. It enlists accessory neuron networks and that means increased cognitive effort is needed to weed out irrelevant sounds, like background noise, and more concentration is needed for hearing.

A high cognitive effort reduces the amount of brain resources available to process everything else. There's less of a cognitive reserve to tap into. So, things like concentration, memory and planning capacity may be affected. It's easier to get distracted. And constantly decoding and processing sounds can take up a lot of mental resources which can be tiring, eventually leading to potential withdrawal from social interactions.

This may explain why we see up to five times higher risk of dementia in people with untreated hearing loss. (Johns Hopkins study).

The SENSE-Cog Project study

The SENSE-Cog Project study stands out from previous research because it compares cognitive changes before and after hearing aid use in the same hearing-impaired individuals. (Older studies compared cognitive outcomes in hearing aid users and non-users.)

Hearing aid connection significance

They offer possible reasons for the connection between hearing aid use and cognitive decline. According to one hypothesis, hearing aid use “may reduce depression, promote cognitively stimulating engagement (and) promote greater physical activity and/or self-efficacy, all of which protect cognitive function.” Another hypothesis is based on hearing aid use reducing the adverse impacts of sensory deprivation on brain function as mentioned above.

A woman in a garden wearing a hearing aid

Hearing health linked to brain health

The SENSE-Cox Project study also “suggests that improving (the) prevention, identification and treatment of hearing impairment may help to delay the onset of cognitive impairment and reduce the impending dementia epidemic.”

Keeping your hearing-brain healthy

It's important to identify and treat hearing loss early. The longer treatment is neglected, the more challenging it can be for the brain to relearn and repair itself. Like physical therapy after a surgery, consistent use of hearing aids is essential in a successful treatment plan. Amplifon hearing health care offers complementary aftercare services to ensure a successful treatment plan. Find out more today.

A senior woman trying her new hearing aid

Schedule an appointment

The sooner you get help for your hearing loss, the sooner you can improve your quality of life and protect your overall health. At Amplifon we make it easy to take that next step. Request an appointment with a qualified hearing care professional!