Dementia and hearing loss support in Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen
There is mounting evidence that a link exists between hearing loss and dementia. We look into the possible causes and how the risk can be reduced.
Possible causes for the link between hearing loss and dementia
Although there is a correlation between hearing loss and dementia, it is important to note that this link is not fully understood and research is ongoing to investigate the possible causes. Alzheimer’s Research UK suggests some possibilities:
Social interaction
The link may not be direct one. For example it is also known that there is a correlation between social isolation and dementia. Could it be that people with hearing loss have fewer social interactions and it is the reduced mental stimulation and a reduction in a person’s ability to build a ‘cognitive reserve’ that we get from social interaction which leads to a greater risk of dementia? The Home Instead team have connections with lots of community groups to increase social interaction. Ask for our WOW guide for more information.
Circulation in the brain
Another theory is that the two conditions could be linked by a reduction in circulation to the brain. Vascular dementia especially is caused when there is restricted blood flow which damages brain cells. It is possible that the same effect damages parts of the brain which responsible from processing sound.
Inflamation
The University of Ontario is investigating another possibility that exposure to noisy environments causes inflammation in the brain which in turn leads to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Diagnosis
The NHS reports that there is a striking correlation with increased risk, stating that “mild hearing loss doubles the risk of developing dementia, moderate hearing loss triples the risk, and severe hearing loss increases the risk fivefold.” Although diagnosis is improving sometimes hearing loss can be misdiagnosed as dementia and vice versa, so it is well worth seeking an expert opinion.
Support for Dementia and hearing loss in Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen
Whilst further research is still needed in this area, most experts agree that for some people with hearing loss, the risk of cognitive decline can be reduced by the use of hearing aids. A study by John Hopkins University funded by NIH found that people from a healthy heart study “who received hearing aids had an almost 50% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline compared with people in the health-education group.”
If you are concerned about hearing loss and would like to find local support, there are several organisations who can help. At Home Instead (Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen), we were very pleased that our Virtual Dementia Experience was attended by Hear in Hagley . You can find them on Hagley High Street, just up the road from our own office, and there are other services which can also offer advice:
If you are living with the effects of hearing loss or dementia, our care professionals are trained to support people to continue living well and independently in their own homes. If you would like more information about our Alzheimer’s and Dementia services, please call our team at the office.
