Celebrate the Men and Women in Your Life In May, we celebrated all the moms out there and in June, we celebrate our dads. As we celebrate these men and women in our lives, it’s time to remind ourselves how important prevention and early detection are to the overall health of our loved ones. The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) and Doctors Hearing Clinic (DHC) are raising awareness of the importance of hearing health to the overall wellness of the individual. Research shows an association between hearing loss, quality of life, and some common chronic health conditions. As many as one-third of women in the United States in their 50s and two-thirds in their 60s have some degree of hearing loss. More than half of the 38 million people in the United States with hearing impairment are male. A recent study in 2008 found that the prevalence of hearing loss in younger adults is increasing, specifically with adults in their 20s and 30s. The most important reason to not put off having a hearing test and receiving treatment is because we “hear” with our brain, not with our ears. We actually receive sound with our ears, but process sound and understand with our brain. When hearing loss is present, the connections in the brain that respond to sound become reorganized. Fortunately, for most people, hearing aids can give the sound stimulation or access to sounds the brain has been missing to help the brain restore normal organization of its connections. This allows a chance for the brain to identify sounds it has been missing and cognitively process them. The majority of people with hearing loss can benefit from the use of hearing aids. Advances in technology have improved hearing aids by making them more effective and comfortable. The sooner you have hearing loss identified and start using hearing aids fit by an audiologist, the sooner you will receive the sound stimulation needed and reap the rewards of better hearing. As audiologists, we have known for some time how addressing hearing loss can have a positive impact on a person’s quality of life. Research has shown how those with hearing loss that utilize hearing aids have seen and improvement in their ability to hear in more situations; and many see improvements
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June 2015
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in their relationships at both home and work, and in their social lives. This research shows that many people feel better about themselves after utilizing hearing aids. Newer research has found associations between hearing loss and other health issues, such as risk of falling, depression, dementia, cognition, and overall mental health.
are more likely to suffer hearing loss. And a third found that regular fish consumption and higher intake of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women.“
Healthy Hearing By Dr. Katie Slade and Dr. Brittany Spahr
Depression: Link between depression and hearing loss. A study at Johns Hopkins found that older adults who have hearing loss were more likely to have deep episodes of stress, depression or bad mood as compared to their peers who have normal hearing. Research shows that hearing loss is associated with depression among U.S. adults, but especially among women. Cardiovascular health: Cardiovascular and hearing health may be linked. ‘The ear may be the window to the heart.’ The inner ear is sensitive to adequate blood flow and some abnormalities within the cardiovascular system could be seen here before other parts of the body that are less sensitive. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that men and women who used hearing aids had significantly lower mortality risk when compared with those who were hearing impaired that did not use hearing aids. Diabetes: Those with diabetes are twice as likely to have hearing loss. Having diabetes may even cause someone to experience a greater hearing loss as they age, especially if their diabetes is not well managed with medication. Modifiable behaviors: Another study found that certain lifestyle behaviors that affect our hearts may have an impact on hearing. Three modifiable behaviors that were seen to have an association with the heart and hearing health: “One found that a higher level of physical activity is associated with lower risk of hearing loss in women. Another revealed that smokers and passive smokers
Risk of dementia: Recent research has shown a link between dementia and hearing loss. “A study by researchers at Johns Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging found that seniors with hearing loss are significantly more likely to develop dementia over time than those who retain their hearing. Another study, by hearing experts at Johns Hopkins, found that older adults with hearing loss are more likely to develop problems thinking and remembering than older adults whose hearing is normal.” While research is ongoing in this respect, experts believe that interventions, like hearing aids, could potentially delay or prevent dementia. With this information about the importance of early detection of hearing loss and the overall health of ourselves and our loved ones, why wait to get started on the path to better health! Encourage your loved ones and encourage yourself to be proactive! At Doctors Hearing Clinic we believe that it is important to be proactive and have your hearing screened annually to allow for early identification and treatment of hearing loss. While we celebrated Better Hearing Month in May, we are celebrating better hearing all year long. To schedule a Wellness program appointment or a comprehensive hearing evaluation at DHC, please call (334) 3961635 and get on the path to better hearing today! Content adapted from the Better Hearing Institute: http://www.betterhearing.org/news/ treating-hearing-loss-helps-other-aspectswomen%E2%80%99s-wellness Dr. Katie Slade is a Board Certified audiologist and fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Dr. Brittany Spahr is a Doctor of Audiology and fellow of the American Academy of Audiology.
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