Having to deal with hearing loss can be a big enough challenge without coping with a decline in your brain’s abilities too. As the years go on and more candles appear on our birthday cakes we are bound to incur changes in our bodies, but the less dramatic these changes the better. You may think that losing your hearing and becoming forgetful from time to time is a side effect of growing older but here at Help in Hearing we know that it does not necessarily have to be that way.

Cognitive function declines if hearing loss is left untreated

A recent study has found that elderly patients who do not receive treatment for hearing problems, suffer from a faster decline in their cognitive functions over time. Over a period of 6 years, tests were carried out on almost 2,000 patients with a mixture of hearing abilities. The test scores within patients with hearing loss deteriorated 40% faster than in the patients with sound hearing. With figures showing that 2 in 3 of us experience hearing difficulties from the age of 70 onwards, it is crucial to tackle the problem sooner rather than later.

Hearing loss – the link with dementia

The study has also brought up questions concerning the link between hearing loss and dementia. Losing your hearing can mean the world you live in becomes isolating and lonely, both of which are classic characteristics of many types of dementia. So with these findings, it has never been a more important time to get in touch and book a hearing test. Even if the results are clear, we can offer expert advice on how to minimise the risk of hearing loss and therefore hopefully keep your brain as alert and active as ever.