6 • BrainMatters • Fall/Winter 2023
As we age, conversations in noisy places like
restaurants can become challenging.
We usually think of hearing loss as an ear issue, but
our brain plays a significant role as well.
Our ears and brain work together to help us focus on
specific sounds and ignore others. However, as we
grow older, our brain processes sound less efficiently,
and many of us start losing some of this ability.
Hearing in noisy environments is tied to our brain's
ability to function well. Problems like struggling to
understand conversations in crowded places can show
up years before we even realize our hearing is impaired.
Not only does hearing loss lead to social difficulties —
it also increases the risk of developing dementia.
Recent research has revealed an important link between
hearing and brain health in older adults. In a study
published in the Lancet, a respected source, a group of
individuals at risk of dementia were given hearing aids
and health education over the course of three years,
while another group was only given health education.
At the end of the three years, the individuals who
received hearing aids experienced about half as much
cognitive decline as those who only received the health
education. This study underscores the importance of
using hearing aids to reduce dementia risk.
Hearing loss is a widespread issue among older adults,
affecting approximately one-third of those over 60 and
more than 80 per cent of those older than 85 years.
This hearing decline has a big impact — it makes it
harder for people to connect with others and enjoy life.
HOW HEARING AIDS CAN HELP
REDUCE THE RISK OF DEMENTIA
