More on Hearing Loss and Dementia

The 2011 study of 639 people at Johns Hopkins found the following disturbing and direct relationship:  For each 10 decibel loss in hearing, the risk of dementia rose about 20 percent among the participants in the study. This study was conducted by otolaryngologist Frank Lin and his colleagues.

It has been estimated that more than 75% of adults with significant hearing loss do not seek professional help.Those people who do seek help have waited approximately seven years before doing anything about their hearing impairment.

It is very important to seek help as soon as the problem is detected.  Quite often, family members and friends may notice the problem first.  Hearing loss usually develops gradually and the person with the loss is unaware.  A “significant other” needs to step up and talk with the person with the impairment.  The sooner the problem is detected and dealt with the better the changes of reducing dementia.

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