Hoglund Family Hearing & Audiology Center

The latest findings on the connection between Hearing Loss and Cognitive Function! Does your loved one constantly forget items that you know you've discussed with them, or is it possible that they didn't actually hear the message correctly? This question has been a concern for many families who suspect that a family member is showing signs of cognitive decline. Now, new research shows that hearing loss may not only be mistaken for signs of Alzheimer's disease or Dementia but that hearing loss may actually contribute to cognitive problems!Research now shows that untreated hearing loss can significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia! CNN reports that The risk of Dementia raised as hearing ability declines! AARP quotes a study from Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging that finds that Men and Women with Hearing Loss are much more likely to develop Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease! They further state that Even mild Hearing Loss doubled the Dementia risk and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine links even early stage Hearing Loss to accelerated brain atrophy!The findings suggest that poor hearing is a "harbinger of impending dementia," says George Gates, M.D whose own research has demonstrated a link between the two conditions. We listen with our ears but hear with our brains," Gates says. " People with moderate hearing loss generally struggle to communicate even in quiet settings. People with severe hearing loss, the study reports, were five times more likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing.Frank R. Lin, M.D., an ear surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, says that hearing loss is such a slow and insidious process, it is often left ignored and untreated." Regularly scheduled Hearing Tests should be a part of Seniors routine medical testing, and hearing loss should be addressed as early as possible before these negative consequences begin to develop. If you are over the age of fifty and have not had a Baseline Hearing Test, I would encourage you to begin monitoring your hearing acuity the way you monitor other aspects of your health, states John Hoglund of Hoglund Family Hearing And Audiology. These tests are provided as a Free public service by our Practice, at our Bonita Springs and Estero Clinics, and you will also receive a copy of six different reports about the research mentioned in this article.Please contact John and Patricia Hoglund at (239) 498-7142 to schedule an appointment.