Hearing Loss Raises Risk For Cognitive Decline –Study

A new, large study from France has underscored the link between adult hearing loss and dementia.

According to the research published in the journal ‘JAMA Network Open,’ thinking skills may decline because people with hearing loss become socially isolated and go for long periods without auditory input.

Similarly, the study found that hearing loss is linked to loss of volume in critical areas of the brain as well. Dementia is a group of conditions characterised by impairment of at least two brain functions, such as memory loss and judgement.

Symptoms include forgetfulness, limited social skills and thinking abilities so impaired that it interferes with daily functioning.

“Given the major burden of cognitive decline and the absence of curative treatment, identifying modifiable risk factors is of importance,” a team led by Dr. Baptiste Grenier, of the Université Paris Cité, wrote on October 1 in the ‘JAMA Network Open’.

Even so, the researchers said hearing aids for patients with disabling hearing loss should be prescribed based on potential benefit to quality of life and not to ease cognitive decline. For that, they wrote, more research is needed.