CAUTION: Hearing loss started the ball rolling, so to speak.

Martin Robbins

Hearing loss ... reduced brain activity/stimulation ... brain shrinks.

It's all through the medical journals.  And, just to see how recent and many the reports are, I only Googled back one year.

What JAMA calls dual sensory impairment - audio and visual for instance - increases chance of Alzheimer's in people 65 and older by 267%.

I just could not believe how my mom, who passed yesterday, got Alzheimer's.

I got my mom hearing aids in ~2014.  She would not wear them.  "I don't want them."  Any time she did wear them she was noticeably more responsive and quick in conversation.  It was obvious.  Then, as has been reported, ther brain not only shrinks but becomes overworked.

They know cognition and hearing are located in same part of brain.  It's known that the brain atrophies with hearing loss.  (This is all from medical journals.)  Brain generates sound in your mind to fill what has gone missing.  (auditory hallucinations.)

Even mild hearing loss can double your dementia risk.

This is just a smattering of what's out there.

"Failing to treat hearing impairment can result in auditory deprivation—and over time, the parts of your brain responsible for hearing can shrink or atrophy from lack of use. Yes, you read that right: Brain shrinkage can occur if you don't treat your hearing loss."

"Hearing loss in Alzheimer's Disease is associated with loss of brainstem and cerebellar volume."

Good luck and thank you.

mommyandme (m&m)

That’s very interesting, thanks.  What’s strange about our situation is that before my mom got herself diagnosed she thought she had hearing loss.  She got to the doctor for that and started hearing aides. Not sure what happened at the doctor but my mother can hear fine. After dementia was clearly apparent she quit wearing the aides. My theory is that she wasn’t comprehending as well yet she attributed it to her hearing, we all did.  Since I’ve been her primary caregiver for two years, I know she can hear just fine. 

My story is not discrediting this research at all.  The science is remarkable and definitely important for us to heed.  Thanks again. 

SusanB-dil

Interesting - and this is not the first time I've heard of this.

MIL does have some hearing loss (was tested for it). Of course, she thinks that is absurd and refuses any chance of hearing aid.  M&M - interesting that your mom thought she had hearing loss, and was actually, possibly, the very beginning of cognitive loss instead. 

What is strange is the MIL will crank the tv to the point it is uncomfortably loud, but yet at dinner table, she can hear us in a normal tone of voice.  Made me wonder about the hearing test and perhaps it is certain frequencies she has trouble with. I've also wondered if she needs the tv loud so she can 'comprehend' it, more-so than just 'hearing' it. hope that makes sense.

wiiliscreg

I feel so sorry about everything what you have to go through. Hearing loss is a very difficult thing and not only physically but also mentally. If that would be helpful for you, here you can find hearing aids for sale online https://audiologyisland.com/hearing-aids/ and maybe will be able to save money for other important things.

jfkoc

Hmmm...so what is the percentage for deaf people?

Martin Robbins

jfkoc wrote:

Hmmm...so what is the percentage for deaf people?

There is an important distinction to make between deafness and hearing loss.  The brains of deaf people have not expected to be stimulated from the auditory canal.  The brains of people with hearing loss do.