No, we cannot say for certain that hearing loss or tinnitus cause dementia. There is lots of research being done exploring the causes and risk factors for dementia, it is a very complex area of research.
Several things have been identified that can increase the risk of dementia. One of these is hearing loss, and as tinnitus is often a symptom of hearing loss, it is sometimes included as a risk factor.
What we do know is that hearing loss does have an impact on the way the brain ages and research has shown that treating hearing loss can help the brain age well. It is thought that this is due to several factors.
- One is that we know that people with hearing loss often end up withdrawing from social interactions and this can lead to social isolation which in turn is a significant risk factor for poor brain health.
- The other is that researchers are finding the hearing loss itself changes how the brain functions due to a decrease in stimulation and this in turn results in poor working memory and in some cases poor cognition.
The good news is that recent studies have found a significant difference in these factors between hearing aid users and those who do not wear hearing aids. This tells us that treating hearing loss by wearing hearing aids not only helps you hear better but can help the brain to age well. One of the key things one study found was that having the right hearing aids set up correctly along with high quality, consistent ongoing audiology care was critical to get the benefits of hearing aid use.
This is where we can help by providing solutions tailored to each individual. With 3 full time clinicians based here in Blenheim available to support you during the initial trial period and also for the lifetime of the hearing aids we are able to offer the ongoing support needed to ensure long term success.
If you have any concerns about you or a loved one the first port of call should always be your GP, screening for dementia and cognition is outside of the scope of practice for audiologists and for audiometrists.