| Posted on: | Category: Hearing loss | Dementia
Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found older adults with greater severity of hearing loss were more likely to have dementia. The probability of dementia was lower among hearing aid users compared to non-users.
Why it matters
- Evidence that hearing aids are an effective treatment for reducing the risk of dementia impacts millions of people.
- The new findings are consistent with prior studies showing the link between and the risk of dementia risk.
- Hearing loss is an enormous public health issue involving 66 percent of Americans over 70.
This study refines what we've observed about the link between hearing loss and dementia, and builds support for public health action to improve hearing care access," says lead author Alison Huang, Ph.D., MPH, a senior research associate in the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology
The takeaways
- The prevalence of dementia among participants with moderate/severe hearing loss was 61 percent higher than among study participants with normal hearing.
- Hearing aid use was associated with a 32 percent lower prevalence of dementia in the 853 participants with moderate/severe hearing loss.
A closer look
- Past studies were limited to clinical data, which left out vulnerable populations that couldn't get to a clinic.
- In this new study, the team collected data from participants through in-home testing and interviews, making the results more representative of the US population.
- How hearing loss is linked to dementia isn't yet clear, and studies point to several possible mechanisms.
- The research team expects a more complete picture of the effects of hearing aids on cognition and dementia from a three-year randomized trial later this year.
Do you have hearing loss?
Schedule a free, 15-minute hearing screening performed by an audiologist. It's easy to find out if you have hearing loss. Don't guess. Find out.
If you have hearing loss, your audiologist will explain —
- How much hearing you've lost
- Whether your hearing needs treatment now or later
- How hearing aids mitigate the increased risks of social isolation, falling, faster cognitive decline, and dementia.
Crest Hill: 630-633-5060 | Palos Hills: 708-599-9500
