519.915.4370
519.915.4370
Are you finding the need to turn the TV up louder for a senior you love? Speaking more loudly? Repeating conversations a senior loved one missed hearing the first time? Hearing loss in seniors is not uncommon. But emerging scientific studies are pointing to a startling connection between hearing loss and an increased risk for dementia.
How Hearing and Cognitive Functioning Are Connected
There are a few hypotheses researchers are investigating to explain the link between hearing loss and dementia:
It is extremely important to pinpoint the specific reason for this connection and to determine if treating hearing loss can help. The number of individuals who may be impacted is astounding, with as many as 60% of Canadian seniors currently having some degree of hearing loss.
We already know that older adults with hearing loss have a decline in cognitive functioning at a rate of 30 – 40% faster than those with normal hearing. Not only this, but hearing loss increases the risk for other health issues, most notably falls and depression.
The good news is that medical researchers at Johns Hopkins are currently attempting to determine whether treating hearing loss might actually minimize brain aging and prevent dementia. A study of almost 1,000 older adults with hearing loss is ongoing, and by as soon as next year, we’ll have the information required for a path forward.
If a person you love struggles with hearing loss, encourage them to get a checkup and to wear hearing aids if recommended by the physician. Additionally, our dementia care specialists are on hand to help individuals with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia to stay safe, comfortable, and involved with enjoyable and meaningful activities. We can also help with more effectively managing a number of the challenging behaviors related to dementia, in particular aggression, agitation, wandering, sundowning, and much more.
Contact Amy’s Helping Hands, the leading Windsor, Ontario area home care provider, any time at 519-915-4370 for additional details on how we can help seniors live healthier lives at home. We offer an in-home consultation to answer all of your questions and to develop a personalized plan of care to best meet your needs.
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