If you’re regularly asking people to repeat themselves when in conversation, that may be a sign you’re having trouble with your hearing. But in that case, you’ll be part of a large cohort, as statistics show that nearly ⅔ of adults over age 70 suffer from some level of hearing loss. Acknowledging that you’re having difficulty hearing is something that many try to escape- whether it’s a signal that “you’re getting old” or you fear that wearing a hearing aid may in some way stigmatize you, attempts to distance oneself from the reality of hearing loss are ever present, and the proof is in the statistic that the majority of people with hearing loss (perhaps as many as 80%) do not wear a hearing aid. Not only does lack of hearing diminish your opportunity for social engagement and participation in life’s pleasures, but there are real physical and cognitive conditions associated with hearing loss that can put your health and well-being in jeopardy beyond the inability to hear. For a good overview of how to prevent hearing loss, cup your ear and click here.

Generally speaking, we know that hearing loss affects the brain. Your brain is forced to work harder and exert extra effort to process what is being said and make sense of it. In essence, this is called “effortful listening” and may take away from the cognitive reserve you have built up over time. Moreover, lack of being able to hear means less stimulation for part of the brain related to auditory processing, which can then cause that part of the brain to atrophy. Studies have demonstrated that lack of hearing and the lack of social stimulation that follows are associated with cognitive decline. In fact, a recent study published in JAMA Network Open revealed that 80% of people with Alzheimer’s are affected by hearing loss, and that number rises to 94% for people with Alzheimer’s over age 85. We also know that hearing loss is one of the Lancet modifiable risk factors for people at risk of dementia.

There is also an association between hearing loss and cardiovascular disease, according to a recent post in Cardiology Advisor. According to this article, a growing body of research demonstrates that treating or lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease could prevent hearing loss or slow its progression. Conversely, hearing loss may be a sign of cardiovascular disease, so those experiencing hearing loss may want to further investigate their cardiovascular health. And as a reminder, we know that loss of hearing is implicated in balance problems and elevating your risk of falls. In fact, in a recently released study published in JAMA Otolaryngology, researchers report that individuals with hearing loss had a 51% higher odds of falling compared to those without hearing loss. As the study made clear, individuals “with HL (hearing loss) may experience increased demands in listening and communication, potentially reducing the attentional resources crucial for balance control…hearing loss may also directly restrict an individual’s access to auditory information essential for spatial awareness and maintaining postural balance.”

Of course, for many, discussing hearing loss and what can be done to address it can be a conversation fraught with anxiety and distress. The National Council on Aging has a useful discussion guide to help you have this conversation with a loved one or friend whom you suspect is not hearing well. There are quizzes that can help you and a loved one review whether it makes sense to get a hearing checkup and assessments you could review together to see if an appointment with an audiologist might make sense. Of course, we also know from a previous agebuzz post that the popular Apple AirPods Pro 2 come with software that can allow you to test your hearing using the device and then allow you to use the Pro 2 earbuds as a hearing aid. For a review of how to set up and use these Apple devices for a hearing aid, click here. The Wall Street Journal recently followed up with some individuals who are using these Pro 2s as hearing aids, and the responses were positive, though not without some complaints. For many, the devices seem to be a gateway to determining whether a more sophisticated hearing aid might be called for (including its greater expense), but for amplifying sounds, the AirPod Pro 2s were generally successful. However, the battery life means the devices cannot last for a full day, and many complained that the ear buds fell out (though there are 4 different sized buds for you to choose from), and some had difficulty managing the various settings on their phones. Find out more here, and if you’re curious, you can read here about how Apple developed the hearing aid technology now available in the AirPods Pro 2.