If you’re an older adult choosing not to treat a suspected hearing loss, you may be harming your health in unexpected ways. Here's why it’s important to have your hearing screened.

Hearing Loss in Older Adults

Hearing loss is more common as we age, impacting an estimated one-third of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 and almost half of those over 75. However, only 20% of older adults who might benefit from treatment pursue it, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

While hearing loss can come in various forms at any age, age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis, can sneak up on you because it appears gradually in both ears.

Assessing Your Hearing Loss

How do you know if you’re turning up the television because of your noisy family or because you’re experiencing hearing loss? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests asking yourself the questions below. If you answer “yes” at least twice or “sometimes” three or more times, you could have hearing loss. Consult your primary care provider for a basic hearing check and potential referral to a specialist.

1. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when listening to TV or radio?

2. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when attending a party?

3. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel frustrated when talking to members of your family?

4. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel left out when you are with a group of people?

5. Does a hearing problem cause you difficulty when visiting friends, relatives or neighbors?

6. Do you feel challenged by a hearing problem?

7. Do you feel that any difficulty with your hearing limits or hampers your personal or social life?

8. Does a hearing problem cause you to feel uncomfortable when talking to friends?

9. Does a hearing problem cause you to avoid groups of people?

10. Does a hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives or neighbors less often than you would like?

Hearing Loss and Your Brain

Hearing loss is linked to depression and anxiety, and it’s also connected to a higher risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, midlife hearing loss increases the risk of developing dementia by twice as much as any other single factor.

If hearing is restored, could that help protect the brain? The results of another study lean toward “yes.” In the NIH-funded study, hearing aids reduced the rate of cognitive decline by almost 50% in older adults with significant hearing loss who were at high risk of dementia.

Although more studies are required, the link was strong enough for the lead researcher to recommend regular hearing checks for older adults to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Partnering With Your Provider for Your Health

Another reason to pay attention to your ears is that untreated hearing loss can be wrongly identified as cognitive decline. Make sure to give your provider the full picture of your health, so they can guide you to the best possible care.

If you don’t have an immediate hearing concern, your annual wellness visit is a good time to ask your provider to check your hearing. Many annual wellness visits include this as a preventive care assessment.

If you aren’t seeking help because hearing difficulties make you “feel older,” remember the consequences of not detecting a problem. Early treatment of hearing loss is the best way to protect your cognitive health and your future care options.

Looking for a Provider?

If you are looking for a primary care provider, Aultman Medical Group Primary Care has many providers ready to take care of you and your family. Many of our offices are accepting new patients – and more than likely, we have a location in your community.

Visit aultman.org/NewDoc to find a provider in your area who is accepting new patients, or call the new patient hotline at 330-433-1264 for assistance with scheduling your appointment.

Sources:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Library of Medicine