Hearing and Cognitive Aging

For a long time, researchers have focused on the auditory problems caused by the slow decline of this sense, which is so essential to communication. However, recent studies have found that the consequences go far beyond just communication.

Of all health problems associated with aging, hearing loss is one of the most common. In fact, 30% of people aged 65 and over have hearing loss that causes significant communication difficulties. Age-related hearing loss is caused by the loss of sensory cells, which deprives the brain of the information it needs to decode the auditory environment. This process is gradual and irreversible.

The brain is responsible for cognitive functions, including communication, memory and thinking. Cognitive functions are also affected by aging. Essentially, as time goes by, the brain becomes less effective. In some people, the decline in cognitive abilities may be serious enough to interfere with daily activities. This is known as dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease). According to some projections, cases of dementia may increase by 57% over the next two decades.

Presbycusis reduces cognitive stimulation, so it significantly affects the decline of cognitive abilities. Compared to seniors with no hearing loss, those with uncorrected hearing loss see their cognitive abilities decline 30 to 40% faster. In addition, it is estimated that about 9% of cases of dementia are caused by hearing loss. What’s more, presbycusis may accelerate the symptoms of dementia by 5 to 10 years.

Researchers have concluded that mitigating risk factors, such as hearing loss, can reduce the negative impacts of declining cognitive functions and even prevent dementia.

Among the treatments that have shown significant benefits for cognitive abilities, hearing aids and auditory training are at the top of the list. Auditory training is about making a hearing-impaired person hear sentences in different contexts, so that they try to recognize as many words as possible. The task is repeated in other contexts with different sentences. The goal is to improve hearing through training. Auditory training can be effective both in person (e.g. in a rehabilitation centre) and remotely (e.g. using a computer). As for hearing aids, recent scientific data has found that they benefit cognition, particularly in the first few months after starting to wear hearing aids.

In conclusion, it is important to know that age-related hearing loss can be easily diagnosed and treated. Audiologists have all the expertise it takes to evaluate hearing and suggest appropriate solutions.