Prolonged Hearing Aid Use: A Potential Risk for Cognitive Decline?

Cleveland Clinic, 2023

Hi, everyone! I took a well-deserved break after finishing all of my AP exams, but I'm back now to talk about an interesting neuroscience topic related to hearing. There are a lot of people all over that use hearing aids. They significantly improve the quality of life for people with hearing impairments, but there is some evidence that shows that prolonged use of these devices can have some cognitive consequences that need to be explored.

First off,  what are hearing aids and how do they help people with hearing impairment? Hearing aids are these tiny devices that amplify sound, which makes it easier for individuals with hearing loss to receive and understand auditory stimuli. Our brain's auditory cortex is responsible for processing sound. It's linked with other brain regions that are involved in cognition. When a person's hearing is impaired, the brain used more cognitive resources to help decipher auditory information. As a result, this could lead to cognitive fatigue and reduced cognitive capacity over time.

Individuals with hearing loss often struggle to hear and understand speech in noisy environments, like parties and other social gatherings. Even though hearing aids can help in amplifying sound, they may not fully restore natural hearing. This could result in hearing aid users experiencing cognitive overload while trying to distinguish and comprehend speech amidst background noise. This continuous effort to concentrate on speech can lead to mental fatigue and reduced cognitive performance in other areas.

While hearing aids can enhance auditory perception, they can hide cognitive decline in the early stages of using them. Hearing loss and cognitive decline often share common features, such as difficulties in communication and memory lapses. With hearing aids in place, some cognitive challenges may be attributed solely to hearing impairment, which delays the identification and management of underlying cognitive issues.

Hearing aids are amazing devices that significantly enhance the lives of individuals with hearing loss. However, it is essential to recognize that prolonged use might have cognitive consequences. The relationship between hearing and cognitive health is complex, with hearing playing a vital role in various cognitive processes. So, individuals using hearing aids should remain vigilant about their cognitive health and engage in brain-stimulating activities to mitigate potential cognitive risks associated with hearing impairment.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8719768/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2022.1017882/full

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/health/hearing-loss-dementia-study-wellness/index.html

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24756-hearing-aids