Tackle hearing issues and dementia head on

Did you know that by 2050 1 in 4 people globally are in danger of living with hearing loss and as many as one third of these people will live with it untreated?

That shocking stat is according to a 2021 WHO report on hearing.

Ireland’s leading hearing healthcare provider Hidden Hearing is on a mission to teach prevention, early intervention and solutions to help Cork people care for their ears and help prevent dementia. Research has shown that untreated hearing loss could increase the risk of dementia, but wearing a hearing aid can reduce this risk. Safeguarding your ears from loud noises not only protects your hearing but can also lower the possibility of cognitive decline – a win for you, your ears and your brain health.

Dolores Madden, Audiologist and Marketing Director with Hidden Hearing said: “Hearing enables us to get the best out of life and each other. Losing your hearing affects all of these aspects.

“Studies have demonstrated a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. Specifically, people with moderate hearing loss are three times as likely to experience cognitive decline as their peers, while those with severe hearing loss face five times the risk. ”

While the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age, there are things you can do to protect your hearing and reduce the impact of hearing loss on everyday life. Hidden Hearing experts are urging Cork people to be kinder to their ears and listen to audio for no longer than 60 minutes at 60 decibels. This can dramatically help care for your ears and prevent hearing loss later on in life.

Hidden Hearing Health Ambassador and Neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan said: “If everyone adopted healthy habits like protecting their ears from excessive noise, attending annual hearing tests, and wearing hearing aids if they have some hearing loss, potentially there could be 4.5 million less cases of dementia globally. That’s because hearing loss is one of the biggest modifiable risk factors for dementia.”

Dr Brennan added: “Prevention is key. Protection is essential, not optional. If you already have some hearing loss, don't despair, the good news is that research indicates that wearing a hearing aid will protect you against the cognitive decline associated with dementia.”

Hearing care is an act of self-care – so get motivated, prioritise your own well-being and put a hearing check on your to do list.