Hearing Loss and Dementia: What the Latest Research Reveals. Could Your Hearing Be Affecting Your Brain?

More and more research is pointing to a powerful connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline—including dementia. If you’ve been putting off hearing help, this might be the reason to reconsider.

The Link Between Hearing Loss and Brain Health

Multiple studies, including long-term research from Johns Hopkins and The Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, show that untreated hearing loss is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for dementia.

In fact:

• People with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia.

• With moderate loss, the risk triples.

• And with severe hearing loss, the risk increases five-fold.

Researchers believe that hearing loss may:

• Increase social isolation, a known dementia risk

• Force the brain to work harder to decode sounds, leaving fewer resources for memory and thinking

• Lead to changes in brain structure over time

  
  

The Good News: Hearing Aids Can Help

The ACHIEVE study (2023), a large clinical trial published in The Lancet, found that hearing aid use slowed cognitive decline by nearly 50% in older adults at risk of dementia, especially those with other risk factors like high blood pressure or diabetes.

The takeaway? Treating hearing loss may help protect your brain as you age.

When Should You Act?

If you or someone you love:

• Frequently asks people to repeat themselves

• Has trouble following conversations in background noise

• Turns the TV up louder than others prefer

• Avoids social situations because of hearing difficulty

…it’s time to get a hearing check.

The earlier hearing loss is identified and treated, the more likely you are to preserve cognitive function and quality of life.

👂 Support for Your Hearing, Wherever You Are

At Hear & There Audiology, we make it easy to get expert hearing care—whether it’s a quick device tune-up or a full hearing evaluation. We offer weekend availability and remote options for your convenience.

Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse. Protect your hearing—and your brain—by taking the first step today.

References:

• Lin, F.R. et al. (2011). Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Archives of Neurology.

• Livingston, G. et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet.

• Deal, J.A. et al. (2023). Effect of Hearing Intervention on Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. Lancet. (ACHIEVE Study Summary)