Hearing Loss Can Lead to Dementia — But You Can Take Steps to Protect Your Brain

Over 37 million Americans have trouble hearing. Hearing loss becomes more likely as you age. By age 75, half of the U.S. adult population has disabling hearing loss. But among adults over 70 who need hearing aids, under 30% have even tried them. 

Hearing loss can affect different aspects of your life and health. And it can start to change the way your brain works. Hearing loss can lead to memory and thinking issues that are serious enough to qualify as dementia. The good news is that there’s treatment for hearing loss. And, in some cases, hearing aids can reverse many of these symptoms.

How does hearing loss affect cognitive function? 

Hearing plays a big role in brain function. Your brain uses sound to communicate with others, interpret feelings, and avoid dangers — to name a few. 

When you hear a sound, it activates many different parts of the brain to respond. For example, if you hear a lion roar behind you, your brain will respond by doing many things at once. It will activate your running muscles, think of the words to call for help, and problem solve to find safety. 

Hearing loss decreases the amount of sound input that reaches the brain. This means the brain becomes less active. Just as your muscles get weaker if you don’t use them, brain function can weaken, too. 

Even very mild hearing loss may have a big effect on brain function. This means that when people can’t hear, they have less intellectual stimulation and are at risk for becoming socially isolated.

Can hearing loss cause dementia? 

Yes. Studies estimate that hearing loss is the cause of 8% of dementia cases. But the good news is that you may be able to reverse dementia caused by hearing loss. Research suggests that 3 months of treatment with hearing aids or cochlear implants can reverse problems with memory, concentration, and reasoning. 

The diagnosis of dementia is a complex process. And it relies on symptoms and cognitive testing. So someone can easily get a diagnosis of dementia when the real problem is hearing loss. 

Dementia is an irreversible condition in most cases. It’s the result of permanent changes to the brain from chronic diseases, previous brain injuries, excessive drug or alcohol use, and aging. In these cases, hearing loss can contribute to the development of dementia, but it’s not the main cause.

In general, someone’s risk of developing dementia increases with the severity of hearing loss. One recent research study found that:

• Mild hearing loss doubled the risk for dementia.

• Moderate hearing loss increased the risk by three times.

• Severe hearing loss increased the risk by five times. 

What can someone with hearing loss do to prevent dementia?

It’s not always possible to perfectly restore hearing loss. But hearing aids and cochlear implants may improve hearing and help to avoid negative effects on brain function. 

And research suggests that mental activity in general can also reduce the risk of dementia. Those who retire later in life may have fewer problems with cognitive functions like memory, calculations, reasoning, and language skills. (Take this as a silver lining to working later in life — you’re more likely to stay mentally sharp!)

Some causes of dementia are out of your control — like genetic predisposition. But there are ways to lower your risk. Here are 12 things that lower someone’s risk of dementia — at different stages in life.

Early-life stage

1. Stay in school. Education helps with general brain fitness.

Mid-life stage

1. Treat hearing loss with hearing aids.

2. Avoid head injuries, like concussions, and the sports that cause them.

3. Keep your blood pressure in a normal range, either with lifestyle changes or medications.

4. Drink alcohol in moderation; dementia risk increases with over 21 drinks per week.

5. Maintain a healthy weight.

6. Quit smoking.

7. Avoid air pollution, which includes cigarette smoke as well as cities with poor air quality.

8. Reduce your risk of diabetes, which can cause damage to blood vessels in the brain.

Later-life stage

1. Treat depression and mood symptoms. 

2. Take time for social engagement, like group activities and time with friends and family.

3. Stay active — older adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.

Do hearing aids help with dementia?

Yes. Improving hearing can improve or even reverse the dementia symptoms caused by hearing loss. It can also reduce the risk of social isolation, which can have a big effect on dementia risk and mental health. 

The sooner you address hearing loss, the better. People with mild to moderate hearing loss may benefit from hearing aids. People with severe hearing loss (who may not be able to understand any speech, for example) may benefit from cochlear implants. 

Are hearing aids expensive?

The importance of addressing hearing loss is clear. But many people have questions and concerns about the cost of hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage plans and health insurance plans cover hearing aids. And here’s some promising news: In August 2002, the FDA approved a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids for adults. So don’t let concern about possible cost prevent you from checking in with a healthcare provider about your options.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Valerie Anne Jones, MD

Val Jones, MD, is a physician who is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR).

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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