The Brain and Ears: The organs that hear together, stay together
Most people would agree that hearing is one of our most valuable assets. It keeps us connected with family, friends, and the activities we love. It also protects us from harm by notifying us of hazards like oncoming traffic and fire alarms. What some of us don’t realize is how much of our hearing takes place in our brain.
Your ears are like microphones. They pick up sound and filter it up into your brain where its job is to decode the incoming messages. Without your brain, you wouldn’t be able to make sense of what you’re actually hearing.
Read the following verse:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a ________.
Did your brain fill in the blank for you? It does the same thing during a conversation in a noisy room. At a restaurant or party with friends, we may not be able to hear every word with the utmost clarity but when our ears notice a gap in conversation; our brains fill those gaps with the right words.
Having hearing loss causes your brain to go into overdrive! It’s overworking and having to fill in gaps all the time. Now those social gatherings you used to enjoy seem like too much work because your brain is working so hard to fill in those gaps. Since your brain is already working so hard at this big task of filling in missing words, your memory can start to diminish. When your brain does not receive the proper stimulation from your ears, the nerve fibers in your brain begin to die. The connection between the ears and the brain is so critical that these interrupted signals can lead to the increased risk of memory loss and dementia. In fact, the risk is DOUBLED with even a minimal hearing loss. As time passes, and more nerve damage occurs, the risk exponentially increases. Your brain is a powerful machine, but its multitasking skills can be limited and unfortunately, your memory could be the price you pay.
Some things we hear patients say:
“My hearing isn’t bad enough yet to consider hearing aids.”
“I’m just older and my hearing is normal for my age.”
“I’ll wait until I can’t hear at all to do something about it.”
As we now know, hearing affects a lot more than just your ears.
Technology has come a long way in the hearing aid world and it now intelligently utilizes the harmonious connection between the brain and ears. The hearing aids of today optimize sound and adjust to your surroundings. They’re no longer the bulky, whistling, banana-shaped, beige hearing devices your grandparents wore.
They’re sleek, modern, and sometimes completely invisible! And with newer, smarter technology, the pressure to fill in gaps and work overtime is taken off your brain, allowing it to function as it should, reducing the risk of dementia. Hearing aids today deliver a more natural hearing experience, customized to you, providing a hearing aid experience much more enjoyable than ever before.
Please visit The Hearing Review for a wonderful article, “Evidence that Hearing Aids Could Slow Cognitive Decline in Later Life”. It is a fantastic summary of important research regarding dementia risk factors, what is preventable and treatable. It also outlines how hearing aids can SLOW cognitive decline.
Expert Hearing Solutions offers free trials on the newest technology available today. Contact us to set up your free trial complete with hearing test. It’s risk-free, with no obligation and no deposit required.
