Here are three facts you may not have known:

1. Dementia is not a disease; rather, it's a term that describes a wide range of symptoms        associated with deterioration of memory, thinking and the ability to perform everyday    activities. 

2. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

3. The total number of people with dementia is expected to almost triple by 2050.

Here’s another one: A John Hopkins study, published in 2011, found that hearing loss increased the likelihood of developing dementia anywhere from two to five times, depending on the severity of the loss. Dr. Frank Lin, a John Hopkins expert who worked on the study, noted, “Brain scans show us that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy in the brain.”

What can you do?

While there’s no way to immunize yourself or a loved one from hearing loss and the potential effects that come with it, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of hearing loss, prolong its likely eventuality or lessen its impact on your quality of life.

- Minimize exposure to loud noises, especially ones that exceed 85 decibels

- Wear hearing protection when using noisy equipment or when in loud environments

- Get your hearing checked frequently, to be out front of any loss.

- Talk to a hearing professional about solutions — like hearing aids — that can help you compensate for any hearing loss and can help improve your hearing.

If you’d like to know more about hearing loss, the effects on your quality of life and ways to lessen its negative impact, we’re here to help. Contact us today!

Source: 

Hopkins Medicine. (nd). The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss. Retrieved from   http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/healthy_aging/healthy_body/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss