Issue 34.13
My neighbor once told me when she turned sixty “the flood gates opened,” and her mailbox was filled with ads for hearing aids that she “does not really need”—she feels her hearing is fine.
I am often asked why untreated hearing loss matters. People wonder why someone should wear hearing aids all day if they can “get by,” or it they aren’t out socializing with other people. The answer isn’t always simple. However, medical journals are addressing that question with increasing frequency.
In 2011 the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology (JAMA-Neurology) published an article directly linking untreated hearing loss and higher incidents of dementia and Alzheimer’s. This article received a lot of acclaim as it seemed to be something new to the community; however, audiologist have known for years about auditory deprivation— the reason behind this increase in dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Auditory deprivation occurs when the hearing nerves are deprived of sound, which leads to their eventual weakening. The weakening of the nerves to the brain slowly causes a decline in functioning in the hearing centers of the brain. When those parts of the brain are under-utilized a person struggles not only to hear speech, but to understand it. In other words “you use it or lose it”.
The JAMA-Neurology article states, “Hearing loss is independently associated with all-cause dementia.” And that “more than one-third of the risk of incident all-cause dementia was associated with hearing loss.”
The most common cause of auditory deprivation—a person with choosing not to wear hearing aids if they have hearing loss— can be prevented simply by wearing the aids instead of hiding them in a drawer. This simple practice will help to keep the nerves and hearing centers of the brain active and properly functioning and helps reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. If you believe you have a hearing loss, or you haven’t properly treated your hearing loss, feel free to consult a trusted audiologist. If you are prescribed hearing aids, you’ll do yourself a favor by wearing them regularly—even if you think you’re “just fine.”
Dr. Natalie Johnson has been in the St. George area for the past 3 years. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology from Brigham Young University in 2004 and was conferred her Doctor of Audiology degree from A.T. Still University in August 2008. She loves the outdoors and recently enjoyed a humanitarian trip to Kenya. Dr. Johnson specializes in:
Digital Hearing Aid Sales,Service and Counseling Specialist
Earmold and Hearing Protection Specialist
Diagnostic Medical Hearing Assessments for Adults and Children
Cochlear implant mapping
BAHA Fitting and Programming Specialist
Balance &Dizziness Testing and Treatment
Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist
Intraoperative Neurologic Monitoring Specialist
Dr. Natalie Johnson is a Clinical Audiologist at Advanced Hearing and Balance Specialists and can be contacted at 435-216-5077.