Are you deaf ? New link between hearing loss and memory loss

@Auntylou (4264)
Oxford, England
February 14, 2016 1:28pm CST
Scientists have discovered that patients with deafness that is not fixed by hearing aids have a higher risk of dementia (memory loss). It is thought that when a person has mild loss of hearing, they have to focus so hard on what is being said, that there is little time/brain space for committing to memory. In addition, the size of their auditory cortex decreases, an area of the brain which deals with speech comprehension . If parts of the brain are not used, this capacity may be diverted to other functions. I have had a couple of hearing tests and apparently have a very slight loss one side. Having read about this I shall make sure I get checked up yearly and start to use aids if I find I can't hear properly. How about you people, do you think this makes sense?
Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the connection between hearing loss and cognitive function.
12 people like this
12 responses
Oshy
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
14 Feb 16
Hello Janet, yes it makes perfect sense to me. If one is concentrating so much on that inability to hear properly, then it makes sense to me, that there is a portion of the brain that is not functioning for storing memories. I am sorry you are experiencing this slight hearing loss. I tend to have selective hearing at this time lolz I suppose this discovery was discovered by the brilliant Oxford scholars too?
3 people like this
Oshy
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
14 Feb 16
@Auntylou Oh Harvard..more brains of the world Janet.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
@TiarasOceanView But are we not lucky that there are so many good brains at work on all our behalfs ?
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
14 Feb 16
No I just caught a flash on the news and so looked it up. Harvard is involved an maybe others
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
We are both becoming a bit deaf although Vince says people mumble more than they used to. We should go for tests. Our problem is that the aids cost much more than is logical when you consider how cheap some of the technologies are. We don't like thinking we're being 'had'. But we're probably just cutting off our noses to spite our faces - sorry, ears.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341743)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
@Auntylou We have private health cover and can afford the hearing aids. But it goes against the grain to spend top dollar if you think they are ripping you off.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv My dad had NHS aids which helped; once though he was tempted by the claims made for one supplied by a private company and bought some . They were worse than the free ones. I think eventually my sister got them returned and the money back , fortunately
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
Do you not have some kind of National health service in Oz?
1 person likes this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
22 Feb 16
That's good that you informed us about it . At least when we sense that we are already losing a bit of our sense of hearing , then we should have it checked right away .
1 person likes this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
24 Feb 16
@Auntylou I agree , my friend . Sad but that is true .
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
24 Feb 16
I think deafness is not often taken as seriously as sight loss, though it has very negative consequences
1 person likes this
julito
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
19 Feb 16
So now I have to visit an audiologist and buy a hearing aid for my left ear, which is gradually losing its power of hearing.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
21 Feb 16
Yes please do.it should help you stay sociable
The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
14 Feb 16
It makes sense to me. They're probably talking about Wernicke's Area in the temporal lobe of the brain. If it gets under-used, processing in that area could decrease.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
I am deeply impressed with your knowledge, brother Horse!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Feb 16
@Auntylou It's all interesting stuff. I get frustrated when I can't hear conversations well in a loud, crowded room. My hearing above 13 khz is probably toast. But I'm still processing information. I dont feel dementia comng on. I do forget random names (like Tom Cruise) sometimes.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
@TheHorse So far I am not having troubles hearing generally, but my dad found being deaf really isolating and I will do my best to get help early if needs be
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Feb 16
There are some studies I've seen on here that don't make sense. This is one of them. The other that coffee prevents Alzheimer's. My parents drank coffee and my mother had Alzheimer's. Now I'm supposed to believe that dementia is caused because people can't hear and don't get hearing aids. My father has mild dementia now, and he has hearing aids. I've had a high frequency hearing loss most of my life, and I don't have dementia. I'm not saying it's not possible, just that I have a hard time believing it.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Feb 16
@Auntylou Since it's a high frequency loss, it hasn't been recommended yet.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
I hope that you have hearing aids to help with your hearing loss. With all these studies there is only increased/decreased likelihood of further problems , there will always be exceptions
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
15 Feb 16
Yes, it makes sense. When a person does not hear well, he takes time to understand, and possibly miss out the chance to give a witty retort. That will reduce the chance of remembering it for a long time.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
Also I think that if it is too hard to follow speech, many deaf people just switch off as it is too hard to keep up
Vicki, #1 Creek Girl
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
27 Nov 16
Thank you for this info. I have early on-set hearing loss (it runs in my family), but I wear a hearing aid that helps. I also have Alzheimer's on my mother's side of the family. I pray won't get it, but this is very interesting.
Jillybean1222
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
15 Feb 16
i guess that does make sense, though it seems a bit unfair.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
I guess the thing is to get hearing aids as soon as you need them, as it could help prevent further problems
1 person likes this
Margaret Mwangi
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
15 Feb 16
It makes sense to me however i hope since i usually don't get those check up i don't fall victim
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
14 Feb 16
It makes perfect sense. I wonder if I should have a hearing test to be on the safe side.
1 person likes this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
It is probably worth it, if only to reassure yourself.
Shiva
@Shiva49 (26762)
• Singapore
15 Feb 16
Onset of deafness is rather common as we age and also memory loss. Good to know about this connection to take preventive care - siva
1 person likes this