Unexpected Alzheimers symptom could be impacting millions of Brits
When you think of Alzheimer's, the common thing that comes to mind is memory loss. Even though the illness is talked about more then ever, there are still many things Brits don't realise about the disease.
As World Alzheimer's Day takes place on September 21, an expert spoke out about the unexpected health risk factor that affects 12million Brits. Former NHS CEO and hearing health expert, Amanda Philpott, said hearing loss is something people should be looking out for.
Amanda Philpott, who is a hearing training expert and co-founder at eargym, said it's not something people commonly associate with the illness, but there is a connection. And with around 12m people in the UK affected by hearing loss, it's important to keep an eye on your symptoms.
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Hearing loss refers to a partial or complete decrease in a person's ability to hear sounds. It can affect one or both ears and can range from mild to profound.
There are many different types of hearing loss which can occur at any age and for various reasons. The World Health Organisation estimates that in addition to the 430m adults globally already experiencing a disabling level of hearing loss, around 1.1billion more young people are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss, meaning pretty much all of us could do with protecting our hearing health a little bit more.
Hearing loss can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life, affecting their ability to communicate, socialise and perform daily tasks. Early intervention can often improve outcomes and help prevent further deterioration of hearing.
Hearing loss is one of thebiggest modifiable risk factorswhen it comes to developing dementia. Several studies have shown a correlation between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline, including an increased risk of developing dementia, but the exact nature of the connection is the subject of ongoing research.
What experts do know is that hearing loss can lead to social isolation and reduced engagement in social activities. Isolation and loneliness are known risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. When individuals have even mild hearing loss, it requires more cognitive effort to understand speech and follow conversations.
This increased cognitive load may divert resources from other cognitive tasks, potentially contributing to cognitive decline over time. Some studies also suggested that untreated hearing loss might lead to changes in the brain, which could be linked to cognitive impairment and the onset of dementia.
It’s important to remember that while many studies have shown an association between hearing loss and cognitive decline, research is ongoing. Not all individuals with hearing loss develop dementia, and vice versa.
What can we do to take better care of our hearing?
Test your hearing regularly
It’s important for adults of all ages to have their hearing regularly tested. It’s easy to book a hearing test with a high street audiologist, or use an app like eargym to check your hearing in just a few seconds using your phone.
You can’t take steps to improve and protect your hearing if you don’t understand your hearing health first. We should all be testing our hearing regularly, just like we test eyesight and blood pressure.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes staying regularly engaged in social activity, seeking cognitive stimulation and taking care of our cardiovascular health can play a role in reducing the risk of both hearing loss and the associated cognitive decline.
Hearing training
While the ear itself cannot be directly improved, the brain can learn and respond to specific auditory stimuli. The sensorineural aspects of our hearing (i.e. the parts of the ear that take in sound) can only be improved by physical intervention such as hearing aids or cochlear implants.
But our hearing isn't just sensorineural – it's also about how we process sound and apply meaning to it. The right hearing training exercises – designed to help you practice skills like locating where sounds are coming from, understanding speech in noisy places and remembering and telling different sounds apart – can work with the brain to help you gain the most from what you hear, improving listening skills and speech comprehension.
Wear noise protection
It’s crucial to protect your ears from loud noises. Use earplugs or ear defenders when exposed to loud environments, such as concerts or construction sites, and don’t listen to loud music in headphones in already-noisy environments for prolonged periods of time.
Seek the appropriate medical intervention if required
If hearing loss is detected and is severe enough to require intervention then take advantage of the support available to you. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices can be incredibly powerful.
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