The Grave Mistake of Ignoring Even a Mild Hearing Loss

Mild. It seems like such an inconsequential word, yet when it comes to hearing loss, it can impact us to the fullest extent. 

So what does it mean to have a mild hearing loss? Maybe you have some difficulty hearing in noisy environments, or you may need to turn the volume up on the TV a few notches. It seems harmless on the surface, but beneath those minor inconveniences lives the real detriment: cognitive decline. Studies have shown that individuals who have even a mild hearing loss were at three times greater risk of falling and twice as likely to develop dementia. As that hearing loss worsens, the likelihood of the associated risks increases. 

“Mild Hearing Loss can make me fall? How”?

With even a mild hearing loss, the brain does not have access to all the information it needs. Day to day, our ears pick up subtle cues in the environment that help with balance which then gets sent to the brain for processing. Without these cues, our brains have a harder time understanding where in space we are. When our brains don’t receive this information, a person may feel off-balance, they may have difficulty walking steadily on uneven surfaces, or they may find themselves grabbing onto nearby objects for stability. Collectively, this could cause a person to suffer a fall. 

“I haven’t noticed any difficulty hearing, but I do notice some balance difficulties.” 

Some people may not even realize they have a mild hearing loss, but they do notice that they do not feel steady on their feet. Fortunately, an audiologist can complete a series of tests called a neurodiagnostic evaluation to see if the ears are contributing to a person’s sense of imbalance. During this test, we will also be able to determine if there is any degree of hearing loss present. A comprehensive evaluation will help your audiologist develop the best plan of care for your circumstances. This may include a recommendation of hearing aids, physical therapy, or both! If you or someone you know is struggling with balance or dizziness, please contact us at Levine Hearing so that we can assess your inner ears. 

“You mentioned that even a mild hearing loss increases risk of dementia. That’s scary!”

Ongoing research has shown us that even a mild hearing loss doubles an individual’s risk of developing dementia, and as hearing continues to decline, the risk of developing dementia exponentially increases. Once again, when a person has even a mild hearing loss, the brain does not have access to all the information it needs, which makes it work harder to try to find the information. Not only can this make the individual feel extremely tired by the end of the day, but it means that energy is not allocated for other higher order functions, like memory storage. Fortunately, wearing a pair of professionally fit hearing aids by either a doctor of audiology or a licensed hearing instrument specialist can slow the progression of cognitive decline by reintroducing the missing information and stimulating the auditory pathways. 

If you suspect that you or someone you know is living with even a mild hearing loss, please contact us so that we can complete comprehensive diagnostic testing and develop an individualized plan of care!