Little Changes in Hearing Can Impact Your Brain

When you are born with a loss of hearing, your brain develops a little differently than it otherwise might. Surprised? That is because we commonly have false ideas about brain development. Your mind, you tell yourself, is a static thing: it only changes because of damage or trauma. But the truth is that brains are a little more dynamic

Hearing Aids Fort Wayne
Hearing Aids Fort Wayne

Hearing Affects Your Brain

You have probably heard of the idea that, as one sense wanes, the other four senses will become more powerful to compensate. The well-known example is always vision: your senses of hearing, taste, and smell will become stronger to compensate for the loss of vision.

There could be some truth to this but it has not been verified scientifically. Because the architecture of your brain can be and is altered by loss of hearing. It is open to debate how much this is the case in adults, but we know it is true in children.

The physical structure of children’s brains, who suffer from hearing loss, has been demonstrated by CT scans to change, changing the part of the brain normally responsible for interpreting sounds to be more sensitive to visual information.

How hearing aids can help prevent dementia

Researchers found that hearing loss affects how quickly and severely dementia progresses. Fortunately, correcting the loss of hearing with Hearing Aids Fort Wayne can possibly prevent the effects of cognitive decline.

Improved brain function

In a study of first-time hearing aid users, hearing aids helped brain function in multiple ways. Before they started wearing hearing aids, participants took behavioral and cognitive tests to measure their hearing, memory, and processing speed. After using hearing aids for six months, the group took the same tests and saw the following results: 

·      Improved memory

·      Improved speech processing

·      Greater ease of listening

Reduced mental strain

Straining to hear conversations is a common symptom of hearing loss. Continual stress on the brain to process sounds pulls resources away from other parts of the brain, reducing memory. If this strain continues, your brain could stop being able to conduct these functions altogether, allowing dementia to set in. Wearing hearing aids makes it easier to listen and limits brain strain, enhancing memory and brain functioning.

Prevent social isolation

When people cannot process the sounds around them, they tend to avoid social situations. This isolation is a leading cause of dementia because their cognitive functions are not being used and deteriorate quicker. The wearing of hearing aids can help you participate in the conversation again. 

Get your hearing checked

Hearing Aids Fort Wayne

Only a small percentage of people with hearing loss wear Hearing Aids Fort Wayne, but they’re an important tool that will improve your ability to hear and provide long-term benefits. If you believe you have hearing loss, schedule a hearing test, and take the necessary steps towards improved cognitive function and better hearing.


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