Dementia and hearing loss

The number of people who will develop dementia in their lifetime is increasing, therefore, it’s important to understand conditions that may cause or escalate progression of the disease. There has been some powerful data linking Alzheimers and hearing loss, as well as making auditory decline harder to diagnose in people with dementia and vice versa. 

Hearing loss and dementia – what’s the link?

Studies have shown that individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss are 5 times more likely to develop dementia in the later stages of life. In fact, 36% of the risk of developing dementia was associated with hearing loss for people over the age of 60. The risk factor is bigger for men in particular and, with further hearing decline, likelihood of cognitive impairment increases. Researchers have identified three main links between hearing loss and dementia: 

• Brain shrinkage – the part of our brain, responsible for auditory perception grows smaller, and atrophies quicker, than the brains of people with healthy hearing

• Overload of the brain – our brains work extra hard when it’s difficult to hear, using more of our mental energy and allocating less brain power for memory, decision making and more 

• Social isolation – the third and final link is difficulty to participate in social situations, leading to isolation and depression, which speeds up cognitive decline 

Dementia care and hearing loss

Hearing loss also makes looking after loved one in dementia care even more challenging. Many symptoms associated with cognitive decline can also be associated with hearing loss, like struggling to follow a conversation, for example. If the person was already deaf or hard of hearing prior to dementia, alterations will be needed to support them through the disease. It’s important to identify the best way to communicate with dementia patient who experiences hearing loss. Some helpful tips include using visual cues, facial expressions and gestures, finding out if they prefer lip reading or sign language, as well as eliminating distractions and background noise. 

The importance of hearing checks

It’s important that maintaining and monitoring your loved one’s hearing becomes a part of their healthcare routine. This is especially crucial, as it will eliminate chances of misdiagnosis for dementia symptoms or hearing loss symptoms. Start by speaking to your GP, who can refer loved one on to an audiology team for regular hearing tests. It is often assumed that people who have dementia have no point in getting tested, or that they won’t manage the task. That simply isn’t true, as hearing checks can be adapted to suit people with dementia. They will be able to identify whether your loved one needs hearing aids, which can be acquired for free on the NHS, making yours and their life much easier by retaining their communication abilities. Living with dementia already makes it harder for patients to express themselves and communicate with others. Preventing hearing loss in dementia patients or providing them with necessary support and hearing aids will help ensure they remain an active part of society and are able to continue enjoying a fulfilling social life.