Question: I’m concerned that my hearing loss may cause memory loss later in life. Could that happen to me?
Answer: I can reassure you that treating hearing loss with hearing aids and early intervention is an appropriate first step for cognitive health. The studies that have been done are not to scare you but to support the fact that significantly poor hearing that is left untreated, or not treated with amplification, can impact the onset of memory loss.
When the auditory areas of the brain do not get stimulation with speech and sound because of hearing loss, changes can occur in that area resulting memory loss. Evidence supporting the relationship between auditory dysfunction and cognitive degeneration has been known for years. Using your hearing aids routinely keeps your brain stimulated with sound and is a good preventative measure.
