Expert: Early Signs of Hearing Loss Could Also Affect Your Brain
When most people worry about hearing loss, they imagine it as a problem popping up sometime well into their golden years. But it isn't an issue only for the very elderly. The early, subtle signs of hearing loss can show up at any time. According to experts, many of us aren't paying enough attention to our ears—it may affect your brain, too.
More than 50 million Americans are living with hearing loss, making it one of the country's most common chronic health conditions, surpassing both diabetes and cancer. Despite its prevalence, it's often overlooked in the early stages.
Rachel Artsma, Au.D., CCC-A, lead audiologist at hear.com, says, "It takes about 7 to 10 years for somebody with hearing loss to actually take action. It's so delayed because there is a stigma associated with getting hearing aids, and also because [the damage] is very subtle sometimes."
Delaying treatment doesn't just affect how well you hear. Growing research suggests hearing loss could have ripple effects on memory, cognition, and overall brain health over time.
Spotting early signs of hearing loss
Hearing loss can begin at any age, and the symptoms aren't always obvious. Dr. Artsma says, "It can be a little difficult to notice you're having a hearing issue, because people assume it's just the volume that goes first, but really it's clarity," she explains, noting that clarity issues can make it sound like people are mumbling.
Other warning signs include struggling to hear in noisy environments, turning the TV volume up higher than usual, or frequently asking people to repeat themselves.
But how do you know whether you're experiencing true red flags or just temporary lapses in hearing? Dr. Artsma says the people around you can offer the biggest clue. "Ask others, 'Are you also struggling to hear?' If you're consistently finding that you're the only one struggling in those types of situations, it would be a good indicator [that something is wrong]."
How hearing loss affects the brain
"What a lot of people don't realize is that we don't hear with our ears—we hear with our brains," Dr. Artsma explains. "When the brain isn't getting sound, and it's left untreated, something called auditory deprivation can happen—meaning, we're depriving the brain of the sound that it's looking for."
Over time, that lack of stimulation may raise the risk of memory problems and cognitive decline. Research published in JAMA Network Open found that even slight hearing loss was linked to a 71% greater risk of dementia. That risk was even greater for people who already carried certain genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. A key theory is that hearing loss may put extra stress on the brain, forcing it to work harder to process and decode sounds.
Researchers also say that hearing loss can make it difficult to interact with others, leading to social isolation and depression —the latter of which has been linked to a greater risk of dementia. "When you can't understand others, you start to separate and isolate yourself," says Dr. Artsma.
Easy tips to protect your hearing early
Dr. Artsma has a few practical tips, starting with a baseline hearing test . "It is never a bad time to get a hearing test, especially if you are somebody who has occupational noise exposure, like construction workers, or if you go to a lot of concerts," she says. She recommends scheduling one in your 30s or 40s, with follow-up hearing tests every two years for people with healthy hearing, and annual exams for those with hearing loss.
Our everyday habits play a role, too. Here are some of the best ways to protect your hearing:
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Use the 60/60 rule.For headphones or earbuds, keep the volume lower than 60% and listen for less than 60 minutes at a time.
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Wear proper ear protection.Put in earplugs in noisy environments, such as concerts, fireworks, construction, auto racing, yard work, or hunting.
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Pick the back row.Avoid standing close to speakers (especially at concerts ). Keep a distance of at least 500 feet.
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Walk away.Take breaks from noisy environments, even if just for a few minutes.
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Pay attention to the signs.Don't ignore ringing in your ears—leave the environment, if possible.
When you consider that hearing plays a role in brain health, the case for early testing becomes hard to ignore. As Dr. Artsma puts it: "We should be checking our hearing just like we check our heart health and our vision—hearing is just as important."
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