New Research Suggests Hearing Aids Could Delay Dementia

Key TakeawaysHearing loss is a known risk factor for dementia, but it’s one that can possibly be changed.A new study suggests that hearing aids could be a powerful tool for improving cognition and even delaying dementia.In the United States, hearing aids are now available over the counter (OTC).

Key Takeaways

Hearing loss is a known risk factor for dementia, but it’s one that can possibly be changed.A new study suggests that hearing aids could be a powerful tool for improving cognition and even delaying dementia.In the United States, hearing aids are now available over the counter (OTC).

A recent study suggests that hearing aids could be a useful tool for improving cognition and even delayingdementia.

The meta-analysis of more than 31 studies that included 137,484 participants found that using a hearing aid orcochlear implantswas linked to a 19% decrease in long-termcognitive declineand a 3% increase in short-term cognitive test scores.

While researchers are still trying to understand the connection and hearing aids alone are not enough to prevent dementia, there is compelling evidence that hearing loss is a key dementia risk factor—and one that can be changed.

Why Does Hearing Loss Happen?

How Hearing Loss and Dementia Are Connected

While hearing loss anddementiaoften occur in the same later stages of life, there’s little concrete evidence proving how the two diagnoses are linked.

A 2011 study suggested that straining to hear and decode sounds like speech may overwhelm the brain. For people predisposed to dementia, the strain could speed cognitive decline.

“Neurons in the auditory cortex are finely tuned to things like pitch, tone, and the human voice,” said Sullivan. “Their primary job is to perceive specific sounds, and when they don’t serve a function anymore, they are no longer stimulated. Brain cells that lack stimulation have a metabolic shutdown and undergo a process ofapoptosiswhich basically means self-destruction.”

Once those neurons have started to decay and a person has hearing loss, they can become socially withdrawn. When it’s hard to hear in social situations like crowded rooms, many people will choose to self-isolate. According to Sullivan, that isolation may contribute to cognitive impairment.

Do Disposable Hearing Aids Work?

How Can Hearing Aids Help?

Sullivan pointed to a 2021 study that showed that older adults who had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and who used hearing aids were at significantly lower risk for developing all-cause dementia compared to people who were not using hearing aids.

Does that mean that any person who is starting to have hearing trouble should get hearing aids?

Like many progressive conditions, hearing loss happens slowly.Brian Kaplan, MD, chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology and Director of the Cochlear Implant Program at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, told Verywell that if you think you’re experiencing hearing loss, the first step is to see anaudiologist.

Brian Kaplan, MDThe biggest thing is we want aging adults to understand they need to take their hearing seriously.

Brian Kaplan, MD

The biggest thing is we want aging adults to understand they need to take their hearing seriously.

“There arefive degrees of hearing loss: mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and profound,” said Kaplan. “Each level considers where sounds fall in loudness level and frequency scale for what you can and cannot hear.”

Rachel Raphael, MA, CCC-A, an audiologist atAlan E. Oshinsky, MD, PA, told Verywell that common signs of hearing loss can include:

In terms of risk factors, it’s also common for people to have a history of working in a loud noisy environment, such as in a factory, on construction sites, or near firearms.

Based on the combined results of these tests, providers are often able to recommend hearing aids much sooner than a patient would recognize that they need them.

What About OTC Hearing Aids?

In the United States, hearing aids can be purchased over the counter (OTC) without the need for screening.However, both Kaplan and Raphael still recommend visiting an audiologist to figure out which hearing aid or cochlear implant is best for you.

“OTC can be affordable and helpful for some people with mild to moderate losses,” said Raphael. “But they will not address the complexity of many asymmetric losses, more severe losses, physically and mentally challenged patients, etc., for whom a prescriptive fit and lots of guidance and troubleshooting will be needed.”

Kaplan said they hope the study and others like it will push more people to find out if they are starting to experiencehearing lossand get the support they need as soon as possible.

“The biggest thing is we want aging adults to understand they need to take their hearing seriously,” said Kaplan. “Just as you wouldn’t dismiss hypertension, you should not dismiss hearing loss. As a society, we should be treating hearing health with as much importance as eye health and orthopedic health as we age.”

What This Means For YouTreating hearing loss is not enough to preventdementia, but it is a modifiable risk factor. To catch hearing loss and treat it, make sure to get your hearing checked and let your provider know if you think your hearing is not as strong as it used to be.

What This Means For You

Treating hearing loss is not enough to preventdementia, but it is a modifiable risk factor. To catch hearing loss and treat it, make sure to get your hearing checked and let your provider know if you think your hearing is not as strong as it used to be.

5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yeo BSY, Song HJJMD, Toh EMS, et al.Association of hearing aids and cochlear implants with cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Neurol. Published online December 5, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4427Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al.Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of theLancetCommission.Lancet.2020;396(10248):413-446. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L.Hearing loss and incident dementia.Arch Neurol. 2011;68(2):214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362Bucholc M, McClean PL, Bauermeister S, et al.Association of the use of hearing aids with the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and progression of dementia: A longitudinal retrospective study.Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12122. doi:10.1002/trc2.12122National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Over-the-counter hearing aids.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yeo BSY, Song HJJMD, Toh EMS, et al.Association of hearing aids and cochlear implants with cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Neurol. Published online December 5, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4427Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al.Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of theLancetCommission.Lancet.2020;396(10248):413-446. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L.Hearing loss and incident dementia.Arch Neurol. 2011;68(2):214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362Bucholc M, McClean PL, Bauermeister S, et al.Association of the use of hearing aids with the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and progression of dementia: A longitudinal retrospective study.Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12122. doi:10.1002/trc2.12122National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Over-the-counter hearing aids.

Yeo BSY, Song HJJMD, Toh EMS, et al.Association of hearing aids and cochlear implants with cognitive decline and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Neurol. Published online December 5, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4427Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al.Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of theLancetCommission.Lancet.2020;396(10248):413-446. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L.Hearing loss and incident dementia.Arch Neurol. 2011;68(2):214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362Bucholc M, McClean PL, Bauermeister S, et al.Association of the use of hearing aids with the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and progression of dementia: A longitudinal retrospective study.Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12122. doi:10.1002/trc2.12122National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Over-the-counter hearing aids.

Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al.Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of theLancetCommission.Lancet.2020;396(10248):413-446. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30367-6

Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L.Hearing loss and incident dementia.Arch Neurol. 2011;68(2):214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362

Bucholc M, McClean PL, Bauermeister S, et al.Association of the use of hearing aids with the conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia and progression of dementia: A longitudinal retrospective study.Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12122. doi:10.1002/trc2.12122

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Over-the-counter hearing aids.

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Key Takeaways#

How Hearing Loss and Dementia Are Connected#

How Can Hearing Aids Help?#

Brian Kaplan, MD#

What About OTC Hearing Aids?#

What This Means For You#