The Link between Hearing Loss & Cognitive Decline in Seniors

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Though hearing loss can be inherently challenging, research suggests this condition can also directly impact a senior’s cognitive function. It’s crucial to gain a better understanding of the links between the two to protect your senior loved one’s health. 

Hearing Loss Puts Strain on the Brain

We actually hear with our brains, not our ears. If your loved one has hearing loss, his or her brain will divert extra energy to processing sound. The resources that would normally be used to encode memory into the brain are used instead for basic comprehension of auditory stimuli. This may not be a significant problem in the short term. However, this constant stress and draining of resources devoted to memory will eventually decrease the brain’s resilience.

Hearing loss is a serious health issue that can impact the ability to manage daily tasks independently. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable senior home care. Families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

Hearing Loss Affects the Brain’s Structure

Imaging studies show older adults with hearing loss have reduced amounts of gray matter in the areas of the brain designated for receiving and processing sound. These portions of the brain actually begin to shrink due to lack of stimulation. Experts suggest these structural changes in the brain contribute to cognitive decline. It’s unclear whether the atrophied portions of the brain will return to normal if hearing becomes better.

Hearing Loss Encourages Isolation

Older adults with hearing difficulties often withdraw from social situations due to the challenges of engaging in conversation. Although the exact reason is unclear, social isolation is a well-known risk factor for cognitive decline. One theory is that the brain needs the challenges of daily interactions to continue to build new neural pathways. Another theory suggests loneliness and depression place the body under physiological stress, which can trigger inflammatory and chemical changes in the brain, leading to cognitive decline.

For families living in Anchorage, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.

Hearing Loss & Cognition Can Both Be Affected by Physiology

Health conditions common among elderly people may affect both hearing and cognition. For example, built-up cholesterol and other fatty deposits can cause the blood vessels in the ear to lose their elasticity and the blood flow to become more forceful. This causes a ringing in the ears, which makes it harder to hear normal sounds. These same deposits can also reduce blood flow to the brain, resulting in vascular dementia.

Hiring a professional caregiver is one of the best ways to ensure your loved one enjoys a high quality of life, even if he or she has impaired hearing. Anchorage elderly home care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. To learn more about our highly trained caregivers, call us at (907) 770-0907.

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