• View Our Location
  • Contact Us
  • Schedule appointment
SHAC_Logo_rnd4_1_RGB-01
  • Memphis, TN : (901) 415-6667
  • Memphis, TN (901) 415-6667
  • View our location
Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Services
  • Your Hearing
  • Hearing Aids
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Back

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline

Posted by Shea Hearing Aid Center on March 01, 2016

Can treating hearing loss delay cognitive decline?

As humans age, many things become inevitable: Our hair will gray, skin will wrinkle, and our eyesight, hearing and cognitive abilities won’t be what they once were. These changes to our body are normal and natural; tradeoffs to living a long and fulfilling life. This doesn’t mean we can’t prolong their inevitability or thwart the negative changes that come with aging.

Luckily, technology and science provide ways to do just that. In fact, two of these changes can be impacted with one technological solution. Let us explain.

Hearing loss is associated with accelerated cognitive decline

A 2013 study by Johns Hopkins Medicine linked untreated hearing loss to accelerated cognitive decline. The highly regarded study concluded that older adults with hearing loss “develop problems thinking and remembering” 30 to 40 percent faster than their peers with normal hearing1. The study attributed several reasons for the accelerated decline, including the tie between hearing loss and social isolation – a well established risk factor of dementia – and science that shows the more the brain works to process sounds, the less energy it has for memory and thinking.

Wearing hearing aids reduces accelerated decline

In addition, a 25-year study investigating the association between hearing loss, hearing aid use and cognitive decline just published their findings last fall. The study supported the Johns Hopkins research but, more importantly, found that people with hearing loss who use hearing aids “had similar rates of cognitive decline as those with no hearing impairment.2”

Kill two birds with one solution

In short, wearing hearing aids not only treats hearing loss, it is also proven to slow cognitive decline in people with hearing loss.

If you’d like to know more about hearing loss and its impact on dementia and cognitive decline, we’re here to help. Contact us.



1 Lin, F. R., Yaffe, K., Xia, J., Xue, Q., Harris, T.B., Purchase-Helzner, E., … Simonsick, E.M. (2013). Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. JAMA Internal Medicine,173(4), 293-299. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1868  

2 Amieva, H., Ouvrard, C., Giulioli, C., Meillon, C., Rullier, L., & Dartigues, J. F. (2015, October). Self-Reported Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids, and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Adults: A 25-Year Study. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26480972

Blog Archive

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021

Contact us

Shea Hearing Aid Center
6133 Poplar Pike
Memphis, TN 38119
(901) 415-6667
View our location
  • Facebook
  • 2021-09-10

    Never had a problem with any of my many visits.

    Gary Smith View Review
  • 2021-09-09

    I have been going to Shea Clinic for several years now and am very satisfied with my experiences....

    Dennis Morris View Review
  • 2021-09-08

    Everyone in the office is so nice and very accommodating! Highly recommend.

    Connie Looney View Review
  • 2021-09-07

    I was very pleased with my experience today at Shea Clinic. The Staff is very professional and Da...

    Betty Buchignani View Review
  • 2021-09-06

    Shea Clinic and Dr. Shea are wonderful! The audiologist is as well. I appreciate all your experti...

    L Peterson View Review
  • 2021-08-31

    Great experience. Dave is both personable and professional as is the office staff.

    Ken Carver View Review
  • 2021-08-30

    Just purchased so am just beginning, but so far am very pleased.

    Keith McGregor View Review
  • 2021-08-25

    Very enjoyable morning learning of new options that was very interesting. Am waiting for my new ...

    Paula Young View Review
  • 2021-08-23

    Always friendly and care about the patient

    Curtis Perry View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Bought first hearing aids in 2009, second set in 2016 and third set in June, 2021. First class se...

    Mike Ritz View Review
  • 2021-07-12

    Professional & prompt service. They explained everything thoroughly in helping me choose the bes...

    Rhonda View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Dave took time to check my hearing and adjust settings on my hearing aid. I am hearing better th...

    Cheryl Webb-Oliver View Review
  • 2021-07-05

    Always helpful. Thanks

    Wayne Douglas View Review
  • 2021-05-03

    Friendly, knowledgeable, technicians. Teach you how to use your hearing aid, and monitor your set...

    Pat Everett View Review
  • 2021-02-15

    The Shea clinic and especially Dr Everett have been such an important contribution to the quality...

    Charles Richard Cozzens View Review
  • 2016-10-27

    I really didn't know what to expect when going to the Shea Ear Clinic- I had already had my heari...

    Rebecca Powers View Review
  • 2015-09-01

    It comes down to the people. The Shea Clinic professionals understand the pratfalls of hearing im...

    Jeff Brunker View Review
  • 2019-11-22

    The staff at Shea are very friendly and professional.

    Terry Robertson View Review
© 2022 - Shea Hearing Aid Center
  • Privacy Policy
  • Online Hearing Test
  • Trademarks