The National Institute on Aging reports that approximately one in three adults ages 65 to 74 experiences hearing loss, and for those ages 75 and older, this number jumps to one in two. Not only can this cause trouble hearing your friends at Hampton Senior Center, it can also affect your emotional, mental and physical health. We review the connection below.
Emotional Health
Untreated hearing loss is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. In fact, according to one study, “Hearing loss was associated with statistically significantly greater odds of depression in older adults.” This is because, when you can’t hear well, you’re likely to withdraw and people and activities you once enjoyed, which is a well-known risk factor for depression.
Fortunately, hearing aids can help you get back to the life you want to live. Another study reports, “Identifying individuals with hearing loss, supplying appropriate hearing aids or other listening devices, and teaching coping strategies may have a positive impact on the quality of life of older people.”
Mental Health
Left untreated, hearing loss is also linked to an increased risk of dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that, “Compared with volunteers with normal hearing, those with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss had twofold, threefold, and fivefold, respectively, the risk of developing dementia over time.”
Hearing aids can help delay a diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, reports yet another study. This is likely because they help keep you social and because you don’t have to strain to decode sounds.
Physical Health
Your physical health and safety can also be impacted by untreated hearing loss. Another research team at Johns Hopkins found that, “People with a 25-decibel hearing loss, classified as mild, were nearly three times more likely to have a history of falling. Every additional 10-decibels of hearing loss increased the chances of falling by 1.4 fold.”
Wearing hearing aids can help keep you aware of what’s around you and can help you orient yourself in space to prevent a fall.
For more information or to schedule an appointment for a hearing test, call Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today.