Hearing loss & the brain

Ever notice how some adults get distracted or tired easily? It may have to do with changes in their brains that are related to hearing loss. Here's a peek inside the brain of someone with hearing loss.

How does hearing affect the brain in the first place?

First we should look at how the brain processes sound in adults. Researchers have studied and continue to study how and where sounds are processed and perceived by the brain. They've found that there's a link between hearing and cognition-the brain's process of perceiving and understanding.

Thanks to magnetic imaging, scientists are able to watch the brain and see how it activates in response to certain sounds. They've discovered that we don't hear with just one part of our brain. The process of hearing also stimulates other brain areas.

For example, when a researcher said a simple word, it activated the auditory cortex. The auditory cortex was where that word was technically heard. But a few other areas of the brain also lit up in the cerebral cortex. Those areas were where that word was understood, perceived  or cognitively connected.

Scientists believe there's a dual-track association between hearing and cognition. Sound activates the auditory cortex, the cerebral cortex and cognitive processes influence how we hear.

We rely on cognitive elements of the brain, like working memory and life experiences, to understand a conversation in a noisy place. Surprisingly, only 10% of understanding speech in a noisy environment is by the actual hearing capacity.

So what happens to the brain when hearing is impaired?

Because there is a decline in sound stimuli and sensory deprivation, hearing loss can lead to  structural and functional changes in the brain. There can be reduced connectivity, brain signal decline, deterioration of the auditory cortex (which is the part of the brain that hears) and a reduction in overall brain volume. These structural and functional changes can affect the brain's capacity to process and perceive sounds and may contribute to cognitive decline.

The brain is forced to compensate for these losses by activating alternative circuits. It enlists accessory neuron networks and that means increased cognitive effort is needed to weed out irrelevant sounds, like background noise, and more concentration is needed for hearing.

A high cognitive effort reduces the amount of brain resources available to process everything else. So things like concentration, memory and planning may be affected. It's easier to get distracted. And constantly decoding and processing sounds can take up a lot of mental resources and can be tiring.

How can this type of cognitive decline be prevented?

Treatment of hearing loss can help keep the brain functioning at an ideal level and can contribute to a good quality of life. There are many hearing solutions and are they are highly effective. In fact, 95% of people with hearing loss can be helped by hearing aids.

It's important to identify and treat hearing loss early. The longer treatment is neglected, the more challenging it can be for the brain to relearn and repair itself. Like physical therapy after a surgery, consistent use of hearing aids is essential in a successful treatment plan.

Certain portions of this article were taken from a blog at Amplifon

Avoiding Hearing Loss

If you already have hearing loss, there’s no way to restore it unless there’s a treatable medical condition that caused it. But if it’s not a medical condition, rather just age-related or noise-related hearing loss, 95% of the time it can be successfully treated.

If the damage hasn’t been done yet, and you have normal hearing they’re are ways to prevent severe hearing loss; And you shouldn’t think just because you could take loud noise in your youth, that you can still take it later in life without the possibility of permanent damage; aging affects every aspect of our health including hearing.

The sad part about hearing loss is it’s almost always permanent…the only exception is certain medical conditions that can be treated such as middle ear infections and certain other conditions that your doctor can advise you on.

The World Health Organization estimates one billion young individuals around the globe are at risk of hearing loss because of unsafe listening practices; Especially with the popular listening devices, loud headphones, concerts etc. 10% of our current population already has hearing loss.

A few of the easy measures: Using ear plugs when you’re exposed to loud noise is highly recommended. Avoid being too close to speakers at a friends house or a live act at the local bar and concerts. Think more about loud noise exposure before you’re exposed to it so you can do something about it when it suddenly happens. Do you go shooting or hunting? Avoid inexpensive hearing protection! Gun shots are so potentially damaging, you need quality protection to help prevent hearing loss.

Here’s a list of probable risks that generate sound above 85 decibels (DB) which is the maximum level for safe hearing:

90-100 DB: Lawn movers— especially older ones - If you mow your lawn or use heavy equipment, use ear plugs.

80-110 DB: Attending local fairs—Those race cars can hurt your ears if you’re too close and the small entertainment venues can get loud too.

80-100 DB: Hair driers near your ear without ear plugs can also put you at risk.

Taking a helicopter ride or working near loud airplanes or vehicles.

120 DB and above: Shooting ranges and just about any military position

90-110 DB: Subway trains

115 DB: Baby’s cry - Be careful when holding a crying baby near your ear.

110 DB: Car horn

100 DB: Snowmobiles and other off road vehicles

We are exposed to so many noises that can cause hearing loss; Care should be taken in the same way you wear glasses for your eyes. Preventive maintenance can potentially help you avoid the need for hearing aids for many years.

But if hearing loss has already occurred or you’re not sure how severe your hearing loss may be, having your ears checked is FREE at Crystal Clear Hearing Aids. And there’s no pressure to purchase anything when you visit us.

Treating your hearing loss can save other health issues that have been known to increase when hearing loss is present:

Dementia—Up to 5 times greater risk of getting dementia when hearing loss is not treated
Headaches
Frustrated loved ones when you ask them to repeat themselves often
Depression and feeling secluded
Accidents: Like not hearing a quiet car in a parking lot
Discrimination: toward the person with Hearing loss
Compensation behaviors: When pretending you hear, people pick up on your miscommunication
Anger and frustration: in relationships and co-workers
Depression: and depressive symptoms
Anxiety
Social phobias

Noise at work has been such a culprit for hearing loss that the U.S. government has finally enacted a ‘Noise at work” act in 2005, which mandates employers to provide ear plugs to employees who are exposed to loud noise on the job.

Of course most of us don’t have ear plugs readily available so it’s a good idea to keep a pair in your purse, pocket, car and at work.

If you're Having trouble Hearing...

Here's a short inspiring video of how a new technology Hearing Aid helped a grandma hear what she had been missing:

PLAY

"I Said You Need Your Ears Tested!"