Personalized Hearing Care May Protect Cognitive Health in Older Adults
A personalized intervention for hearing care could help protect cognitive health in older adults at risk for dementia, according to a pilot study from UCLA and UCLH.
Impairment: a group that is particularly vulnerable to cognitive decline.
The personalized intervention included four sessions to help people get the most from their hearing aids. These sessions covered:
- fitting and adjusting the devices
- setting personal communication goals
- practical support to build hearing aid use into daily life
- fine-tuning the settings if needed
The successful pilot trial, published in the journal Age and Ageing was set in community memory clinics across three NHS Trusts and involved 58 patients aged 55 or older with untreated hearing loss. The results showed that 75% of participants receiving personalized hearing support used their hearing aids daily, compared to just 22% following standard care.
The research provides a practical pathway to address a critical public health challenge: while untreated hearing loss increases dementia risk, many people who could benefit from hearing aids don’t use them consistently. This intervention demonstrates that it is possible to engage a population of people with mild memory problems, and provides a proven approach to overcome this barrier in those most at risk.
This increase in hearing aid use is particularly significant because hearing loss is a major modifiable risk factor for dementia. UCL research has previously found that addressing hearing loss and 13 other modifiable risk factors could prevent or delay nearly half of dementia cases.
So, you’ve just received your audiogram results, and the verdict is ‘mild’ hearing loss. But what does ‘mild’ truly mean for your day-to-day life?
Here at Hearing & Tinnitus Management, we believe in life beyond the audiogram, your experiences go beyond a chart. Enjoying family conversations, savoring meals, or feeling secure on the street can be impacted, even with ‘mild’ hearing loss.
Your quality of life is our priority. It’s not just about decibels: it’s about your overall well-being. Let’s chat, listen, and discover personalized solutions together
Let’s redefine what ‘hearing loss’ truly signifies.