Hearing 

Scientists at Columbia University investigated how close this connection is using data from more than 5,000 people aged 50 and over. Each study participant underwent a hearing test and was tested for depressive symptoms. They found that study participants with mild hearing loss were almost twice as likely to suffer from depressive symptoms as participants without hearing impairment. Participants with severe hearing loss were four times more likely to experience depressive symptoms than those with good hearing. Statistically, the risk of depression increased one and a half times for every 20 decibels (dB) of hearing loss.

In addition to social components, many researchers now also suspect a cognitive component that could favour the development of not only depression, but also anxiety and suicidal notions in untreated hearing loss. For example, it is known that untreated hearing loss alters the frontal brain region. This affects the ability to react appropriately to emotionally challenging or stressful situations and to regulate emotions as they arise.

Poor hearing also plays an important role in dementia. If acoustic and social stimuli are permanently missing, the brain is underchallenged. This can accelerate cognitive decline. At the same time, processing poorly perceived sounds and voices involves much more cognitive effort and creates stress in the brain that negatively affects the speech centre and working memory. All together, this appears to be a significant risk factor for the development of dementia.

Unlike with glasses, many people with age-related hearing loss are difficult to convince to wear hearing Aids. However, a study conducted by Shandong University in China, which analysed the data of about 430,000 people between the ages of 40 and 69, was able to prove how important this is in terms of dementia prevention. It showed that wearing a hearing aid reduces the risk of dementia in people with hearing loss to that of people with full hearing. Even in the case of profound hearing loss that was compensated for with a cochlear implant, an improvement in individual cognitive abilities could be demonstrated just a few months after hearing rehabilitation. Hearing Aids are also important for people with age-related hearing loss in order to remain as independent as possible and to receive good medical care.