A national Australian Newspoll survey has revealed that Adult hearing loss may in fact be associated with an increased risk for a variety of health conditions including diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Many Australians however are unaware or do not believe in a link between hearing loss and other associated health conditions.
“We have seen patients with hearing loss who often present with other health conditions such as diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure. It is a complex association, but hearing loss can never be considered in isolation of the patients overall health,” says Professor Richard C Dowell, Professor of Audiology and Speech Science, The University of Melbourne and Director of Audiological Services, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.”
Studies have shown that those with mild hearing loss perform worse on cognitive tests and are 2-5 times more likely to develop dementia however lest than 25% of people surveyed were unaware of this fact. What was more interesting is that only 2% of people with hearing loss were aware of the same fact. One suggested explanation was the cause may be due to social isolation, one of the risk factors for dementia or the underlying brain damage which leads to both hearing and cognitive decline.
“It could also be that if you constantly have to expend more (mental) energy decoding what you hear, then it comes at a cost,” Dr Lin said. “Hearing loss doesn’t directly contribute to dementia, but leads to cognitive load on the brain. Professor Dowell says Hearing loss helps accelerate cognitive decline, especially as we age. People with hearing loss can often be depressed, socially isolated and suffer from anxiety. As a consequence, they have a significantly reduced quality of life. With technological options such as the cochlear implant, the change in personality of the patient can sometimes be nothing short of miraculous. Being able to hear allows people to communicate again, allows them to live their lives how they want to, and importantly, join in.”
The article highlights the importance of having a regular hearing assessment in order to receive the right care and assistance whether it is from other health professionals or technological devices that can aid in daily living and lower risk factors for other related health issues.
