The older you get, the more likely you are to experience hearing loss. In fact, the National Institute on Aging reports one in three people ages 65 to 74 has hearing loss, and for those 75 and older, this number jumps to one in two. Similarly, a 2016 study reveals that vision impairment affects approximately one in four people over 80.
These types of sensory impairment not only affect your ability to converse with friends at the Hampton Senior Center during lunch and complete the daily crossword puzzle, they can also have devastating effects on your cognitive health.
What Are the Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss?
A research team at Johns Hopkins established a strong link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. They report, “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. The more hearing loss they had, the higher their likelihood of developing the memory-robbing disease.”
Later, they also found that, “Volunteers with hearing loss… had cognitive abilities that declined some 30 percent to 40 percent faster than in those whose hearing was normal… On average, older adults with hearing loss developed a significant impairment in their cognitive abilities 3.2 years sooner than those with normal hearing.”
What Are the Effects of Untreated Vision Loss?
According to a 2021 study, “A recent systematic review and meta-analysis reported that vision impairment is associated with 2.4-fold greater odds of cognitive impairment in existing cross-sectional studies and 1.7-fold greater odds in longitudinal studies.” To sum up, vision loss is associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline like hearing loss.
What Are the Effects of Dual Sensory Impairment?
Those who experience both hearing loss and vision loss are even more at risk. A study from May 2022 found, “For older adults with dual sensory impairment, the odds of cognitive impairment were eight-fold.”
How Can I Protect My Cognitive Health?
Fortunately, treating sensory impairment can prevent or delay a diagnosis of cognitive decline. According to one 2019 study, use of hearing aids is associated with a delayed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other conditions. Call Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today to learn more or schedule an appointment.