Denver (KDVR) — New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that up to 32% of dementia cases in older adults can be linked to hearing loss.
Now, hearing care practitioners are urging residents to get their hearing checked, saying that addressing hearing loss could potentially help delay dementia.
That’s good news for people like Connie Clements. The patient care coordinator got hearing aids about four years ago and hopes that they are helping to keep her brain stimulated.
“I’m just trying to prevent those things that can come,” Clements said.
Her licensed hearing aid specialist at Beltone Hearing Care Center, James Blaszkowski, said better hearing can help people stay engaged and keep their minds working.
“There’s no silver bullet cure. There is the best that we can do, which is live the best life that we have and take the best care of what we have left,” Blaszkowski said.
To prevent hearing loss, experts say to consider wearing ear protection at concerts, lowering the volume on headphones and limiting time spent in loud environments.
To address hearing loss, see a specialist.
“It is not necessarily about hearing everything, but maintaining the full functionality of your brain,” Blaszkowski said.
Modern hearing aids are small, personalized, and can be very high tech, allowing users to stream music or connect to phone calls.
“That’s an amazing thing,” said Clements.
Cost can be a factor for some patients. Hearing aids can cost thousands of dollars and unfortunately, they are not always covered by insurance.
Clements said she is just glad she got her hearing checked.
“I’m just happy I have hearing aids, and it does make a world of difference,” she said.
Kim Posey
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