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Sunday, January 22

Hearing Aids May Delay Cognitive Decline

VIDEO + ARTICLE + APPS:

RESEARCHERS in Australia found most people who used hearing aids significantly improved the ability to plan, organize information and initiate tasks. FURTHER STUDIES found cognitive impairment, such as memory problems, begins in early stages of hearing loss -- when hearing may still feel normal. Learn what you can do to spot and prevent it.

Wearing hearing aids may delay cognitive decline in older adults and improve brain function, according to promising research.

Hearing & Dementia

Cognitive decline is associated with hearing loss, which affects about 32 per cent of people aged 55 years, and more than 70 per cent of people aged over 70 years. Hearing loss has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for dementia.

University of Melbourne researchers have tested the use of hearing aids in almost 100 adults aged 62-82 years with hearing loss.

Participants were assessed before and 18 months after having hearing aids fitted on their hearing, cognitive function, speech perception, quality of life, physical activity, loneliness, mood and medical health.

After 18 months of hearing aid use, researchers found speech perception, self-reported listening disability and quality of life had significantly improved for participants.

Most notably, 97.3 per cent of participants in this study showed either clinically significant improvement or stability in executive function -- their mental ability to plan, organise information and initiate tasks.

Women, in particular, showed significant improvements in working memory -- used for reasoning and decision-making -- as well as most other cognitive functions assessed.

The study also found more frequent use of hearing aids was associated with greater improvements in cognitive function, and women were much more diligent at wearing the devices than men.

University of Melbourne Associate Professor and Chief Investigator of the study, Julia Sarant, said improvement in cognitive function is something that is not usually seen in older adults.

"Although there are successful treatments for hearing loss, there is currently no successful treatment for cognitive decline or dementia," Associate Professor Sarant said.

"This research is a positive step in investigating the treatment of hearing aids to delay cognitive decline.

"Further research is underway to compare cognitive outcomes from a larger sample size with those of a healthy aging comparison group of older Australians with typical hearing for their age."


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And in a related study, research has shown that adults with age-related hearing loss have higher rates of cognitive decline. Now, a study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has found that even the earliest stage of hearing loss -- when hearing is still considered normal -- is linked to cognitive decline.

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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HEARING AT HOME
The study was published online in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Link Between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Impairment

Age-related hearing loss is one of the most common health disorders of aging, affecting two-thirds of those over age 70. However, few adults are tested for hearing loss, and even fewer are treated. Only 14% of adults with hearing loss in the United States wear hearing aids, the standard treatment.

Because studies show people with age-related hearing loss are more likely to have impaired cognition, it is thought that hearing loss may trigger cognitive decline.

But these studies have only examined people diagnosed with hearing loss, which is defined as the inability to hear sounds under 25 decibels (dB).

"Physicians in this field have used 25 dB -- about the loudness of a whisper -- to define the border between normal hearing and mild hearing loss in adults, but this level is arbitrary," says Justin S. Golub, MD, MS, assistant professor of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a hearing specialist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. "It has been assumed that cognitive impairment wouldn't begin until people passed this threshold. But no one actually looked at whether this was true."

Any Hearing Loss May Be Cause for Concern

The researchers looked at data from 6,451 adults (average age 59) who were enrolled in two ethnically diverse epidemiologic studies. Participants underwent hearing and cognitive testing as part of the studies.

Golub and his colleagues found that for every 10 dB decrease in hearing, there was a significant decrease in cognitive ability, a pattern seen across the entire spectrum of hearing.

Surprisingly, the largest decrease in cognitive ability occurred in those whose hearing was just starting to become impaired, just 10 dB off the perfect mark.

"Most people with hearing loss believe they can go about their lives just fine without treatment, and maybe some can," says Golub. "But hearing loss is not benign. It has been linked to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, and dementia. Hearing loss should be treated. This study suggests the earlier, the better."

Can Hearing Aids Prevent Cognitive Loss?

The current study did not address whether hearing loss causes cognitive impairment. It is possible that early declines in both hearing and cognitive performance are related to common aging-related processes, the researchers noted.

"But it's also possible that people who don't hear well tend to socialize less and, as a result, they have fewer stimulating conversations. Over many years, this could have a negative impact on cognition," says Golub. "If that's the case, preventing or treating hearing loss could reduce dementia incidence -- by more than 9%, according to a recent analysis published in The Lancet."

A new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is now testing the possibility that hearing aids can slow cognitive decline in older people with age-related hearing loss.

More studies are needed before recommending changes in hearing loss categories. "One possibility is to formally introduce a new category, such as borderline hearing loss, ranging from 16 to 25 dB of hearing ability," says Golub.

W.H.O.: ‘Once lost, hearing doesn’t come back.’

Many people live with unidentified hearing loss and the associated cognitive decline of their brain. They often fail to realize that they are missing out on certain sounds and words. To address this problem, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) is urging people to check their hearing.

Worldwide, some 466 million people have disabling hearing loss, and the WHO estimates that by 2050 that figure will almost double, affecting one in 10 people. The cost of unaddressed hearing loss is believed to be around US$ 750 billion.

Hearing Test - The App

A new app called “Hearing Test” allows people to check their hearing regularly and intervene early in case of hearing loss. It can also be used by health workers to screen people in the community, and refer them for diagnostic testing if they fail the screening.

The popular app has been downloaded by over a million people and is the recipient of thousands of great reviews. One Google Apps reviewer said, "First off, this is the best free hearing test app available. No doubt about that, and a comparison to my actual hearing test from my audiologist shows a startling accuracy that I was not expecting. This app does however have a couple of areas where improvements can be made, including server connectivity problems and occasional loud hissing/static if the Hz are out of your device's threshold. But seriously, if used correctly, this app is incredibly accurate, especially for no money! Recommended."



The app is of particular benefit to people who are often exposed to high levels of sound, such as those who listen to loud music or work in noisy places; people who use medicines that are harmful to hearing; and people aged above 60 years.

In a statement released by the W.H.O., Dr. Shelly Chadha, Technical Officer of the organization, said that "once lost, hearing does not come back... we encourage people to 'Check your hearing!' in order to help preserve this valuable gift that helps us to enjoy life."

Pandemic of Hearing Loss - 1.1. Billion People at Risk

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), worldwide, 360 million people today have moderate to profound hearing loss. It is estimated that half of all cases of hearing loss are avoidable.

Some 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of personal audio devices, including smartphones, and exposure to damaging levels of sound at noisy entertainment venues such as nightclubs, bars and sporting events, according to the W.H.O. Hearing loss has potentially devastating consequences for physical and mental health, education and employment.

Data from studies in middle- and high-income countries analysed by WHO indicate that among teenagers and young adults aged 12-35 years, nearly 50% are exposed to unsafe levels of sound from the use of personal audio devices and around 40% are exposed to potentially damaging levels of sound at entertainment venues. Unsafe levels of sounds can be, for example, exposure to in excess of 85 decibles (dB) for eight hours or 100dB for 15 minutes.

“As they go about their daily lives doing what they enjoy, more and more young people are placing themselves at risk of hearing loss,” notes Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director for the Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention. “They should be aware that once you lose your hearing, it won’t come back. Taking simple preventive actions will allow people to continue to enjoy themselves without putting their hearing at risk.”

The "Sound Meter" App

Safe listening depends on the intensity or loudness of sound, and the duration and frequency of listening. Exposure to loud sounds can result in temporary hearing loss, or even tinnitus, which is a ringing sensation in the ear. When the exposure is particularly loud, regular or prolonged, it can lead to permanent damage of the ear’s sensory cells, resulting in irreversible hearing loss.

The free "Sound Meter" app uses your smart phone to give you the bottom line regarding just how loud is the space you are in. One Google Apps reviewer said, "Very accurate compared to lots of other sound meter apps. I didn't have a physical sound meter to compare to, but I did test it against equipment rated for a decibel range and it was within the range." It ranks impressively high among users on Google's store. Over 10 million people have installed it.

"Sound Meter" measures noise volume in decibels (db), and if you touch the "T" button, it flips to a "REFERENCE" screen, which shows you in plain English phrases what the current decibel level means. For example, if you are in a noisy room, it will tell you if the sound level is comparable to:
  1. Park
  2. Quiet Office
  3. Normal Conversation
  4. Busy Traffic
  5. Alarm Clock
  6. Factory Machinery
  7. Subway Train
  8. Rock Music
  9. Threshold of Pain
  10. Jet Engine or
  11. Space Shuttle Liftoff.
If you are looking for something more sophisticated to measure your noise exposure, France's Laboratory of Environmental Acoustics offers a free app called "Noise Capture", which will create a "Noise Map" of your world, as you travel through your day. It's a great app for capturing the "Big Picture" of your hearing environment.

Hearing Resources

WHO recommendations

WHO (The World Health Organization) recommends that the highest permissible level of noise exposure in the workplace is 85 dB up to a maximum of eight hours per day. Many patrons of nightclubs, bars and sporting events are often exposed to even higher levels of sound, and should therefore considerably reduce the duration of exposure. For example, exposure to noise levels of 100 dB, which is typical in such venues, is safe for no more than 15 minutes.

6 ways people can better protect their hearing are:
  1. keeping the volume down on personal audio devices,
  2. wearing earplugs when visiting noisy venues, and
  3. using carefully fitted, and, if possible, noise-cancelling earphones/headphones.
  4. They can also limit the time spent engaged in noisy activities by taking short listening breaks and restricting the daily use of personal audio devices to less than one hour.
  5. With the help of smartphone apps, they can monitor safe listening levels.
  6. In addition they should heed the warning signs of hearing loss and get regular hearing check-ups.
Governments also have a role to play by developing and enforcing strict legislation on recreational noise, and by raising awareness of the risks of hearing loss through public information campaigns. Parents, teachers and physicians can educate young people about safe listening, while managers of entertainment venues can respect the safe noise levels set by their respective venues, use sound limiters, and offer earplugs and “chill out” rooms to patrons. Manufacturers can design personal audio devices with safety features and display information about safe listening on products and packaging. Symptoms to pay attention to, which indicate the onset of hearing loss, include:
  • a ringing sensation in the ear, known as tinnitus;
  • frequently missing parts of a conversation; or
  • a tendency to increase the volume of television, radio or audio devices.

How Does Loud Noise Cause Hearing Loss?

The average person is born with about 16,000 hair cells within their cochlea. These cells allow your brain to detect sounds. Up to 30% to 50% of hair cells can be damaged or destroyed before changes in your hearing can be measured by a hearing test. By the time you notice hearing loss, many hair cells have been destroyed and cannot be repaired.

After leaving a very loud event, such as a concert or football game, you may notice that you don’t hear as well as before. You might not hear whispers, sound might seem muffled, or you may hear ringing in your ears. Normal hearing usually returns within a few hours to a few days. This is because the hair cells, similar to blades of grass, will bend more if the sound is louder. But they will become straight again after a recovery period.

However, if loud noise damaged too many of the hair cells, some of them will die. Repeated exposures to loud noises will eventually destroy many hair cells. This can gradually reduce your ability to understand speech in noisy environments. Eventually, if hearing loss continues, it can become hard to understand speech even in quieter places.
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WHAT CAN HAPPEN INSIDE YOUR EAR

Statistics on Hearing Loss

THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WITH HEARING LOSS HAS DOUBLED. GLOBALLY THE NUMBER IS UP BY 44%.

  • 48 million people in America and 360 million worldwide

    • 1 in 5 teens
    • 1 in 5 adults
    • 3 in 5 of returning military service members

  • Hearing loss is the 2nd most prevalent health issue globally

    • The number of people with hearing loss is more than those living with Parkinson’s, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes combined.

  • Tinnitus (ringing/buzzing in ears) affects ~10% of Americans on a regular basis

    • 25 million American adults report experiencing tinnitus for five or more continuous minutes in the past year
    • 16 million people seek medical attention for tinnitus
    • Roughly 90 percent of tinnitus cases occur with an underlying hearing loss

  • Causes of Hearing Loss and Tinnitus

    • Genetic factors
    • Noise
    • Trauma
    • Ototoxic medications (medicine-induced hearing loss)
    • Viral or bacterial infections
    • Aging



In Conclusion

Age-related hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, an analysis of 40 studies from 12 countries has confirmed.

The analysis linked hearing loss to a modestly increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia and to declines in all aspects of cognition, including episodic memory and executive function. The findings were published in JAMA Otolaryngology.

Protecting your hearing WILL ABSOLUTELY protect your brain,
so try out the tips in the video and lists above to protect your hearing.


REFERENCE: SUPPORT:
  • The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (K23AG057832, L30AG060513, and K24AG045334).
SOURCES: REFERENCE:
  • Julia Sarant, David Harris, Peter Busby, Paul Maruff, Adrian Schembri, Ulrike Lemke, Stefan Launer. The Effect of Hearing Aid Use on Cognition in Older Adults: Can We Delay Decline or Even Improve Cognitive Function? Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2020; 9 (1): 254 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9010254
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