Hearing loss, dementia and the new generation of AI hearing aids
AI is having a mixed press at the moment. It’s either THE way forward or something to be concerned about. The reality is that it is already part of our lives, and at its best can enhance and improve our lives almost without us noticing. One example of this is AI assisted hearing aids.
Hearing loss and dementia
A study by the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health revealed that:
“Dementia prevalence among participants with moderate to severe hearing loss was higher than prevalence among participants with normal hearing.”
Yet of the 3 million Canadians who have some level of hearing loss, 80% of those affected do not wear hearing aids. This can lead to them not being able to participate in social situations, and withdraw from attending, or ‘zoning out’ even if physically present.
In a previous article, we discussed how wearing hearing aids to address hearing loss can reduce the risk of dementia.
“The results of a 2023 study published in “The Lancet” concluded that at-risk seniors could cut their rate of cognitive decline by almost half over three years if they simply wore hearing aids for their hearing loss.”
Reducing cognitive load
Loss of hearing also increases the cognitive load on our brains if we struggle to both hear and interpret what is being said. This puts seniors particularly at risk of isolation and loneliness, as hearing loss affects 94% of Canadians aged between 70-79.
Hearing loss causes extra load on our brains as we use more cognitive resources (“brain power”) to decipher what is being said. This means we have to reroute cognitive resources normally available for other brain functions such as memory and problem solving.
This in turn contributes to cognitive decline, probably due to shrinkage of brain tissue (atrophy) in the brain’s temporal lobe which is responsible for processing speech and language, memory and (interestingly) emotional regulation.
Hearing aids can reduce that risk significantly. Research published in The Lancet found that for people with a higher risk of dementia;
“The benefit of the hearing aids was substantial. Those who received hearing aids had an almost 50% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline.”
A little extra help from AI
In the past, traditional hearing aids often just amplified sound and speech. AI enabled hearing aids use learning algorithms to optimize the sound and prioritize speech clarity in any environment. Once programmed to an individual’s hearing prescription, the AI hearing aids can learn and adapt over time to adjust the sound in situations seniors may find particularly challenging.
Since the AI makes real time adjustments, as any situation changes the wearer still benefits from the optimum sound quality and speech clarity. So, for example, a a restaurant gets busier, or more family crowd into the kitchen for a visit, AI hearing aids work to damp down the background noise, and keep the person speaking sounding as clear as possible.
Taking time to adjust
According to one audiologist we spoke to, our hearing takes longer to adjust to a significant change than other senses. For example, our brains quickly adjust to a new pair of glasses with a different prescription, often in a matter of days. Our brains find it harder to adjust to suddenly hearing more sounds, more clearly. Most research suggests it takes around a month minimum to adjust from not wearing any hearing aids to getting the full benefit.
As one hearing charity explains:
“At first, what you hear through your hearing aids might sound different or odd, or you may find normal background sounds … too loud. The reality is that your brain hasn’t heard these sounds at their correct levels for a long time, and it will take a little time for your brain to learn that this sound level is normal.”
Smaller, smarter, and streaming
The latest digital AI enabled hearing aids are small and discreet, but like most modern ‘smart’ gadgets, there’s a lot of tech packed into a small space. The hearing aids’ AI automatically makes adjustment in real time, allowing the aids to adapt to ever-changing environments without manual adjustments.
Modern digital hearing aids can usually connect via Bluetooth (if enabled) to a variety of devices including smart phones, such that the sound is relayed directly into the hearing aid. Digital hearing aids usually include a microphone, so the wearer can simply talk hands-free, without lifting the phone to their ear. This is particularly useful for seniors with limited mobility who might find it difficult to hold a phone up for any length of time.
Smart hearing aids wellbeing features
AI hearing aids can also have a host of other features enabled via a connected app, such as health tracking, fall detection, and even real time language translation. A recent Stanford University study found that one major brand of hearing aid AI technology “demonstrated promising signs of identifying individuals at risk of falls—without requiring traditional vestibular screenings.”
Choosing aids with advanced AI features and an app often depends on how much you want to pay, and it’s worth considering much you (or your senior relative) might actually use the features in everyday life.
Hearing aids and home care
Home care visits are important to combat loneliness and isolation amongst seniors with mobility issues. However, if they can’t hear their caregiver talking clearly, that will reduce the benefits of the visit. In our experience, hearing aids help seniors with hearing loss regain their enjoyment of home care visits, and reconnects them with friends and family who may call or visit too.
Struggling to find quality home care in Calgary?
We hear you. Contact us to discuss your requirements for yourself, for family or other loved ones, and discover just how much our three hour minimum visit times can improve independence and aging in place for seniors..
DISCLAIMER: This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician / health care provider if you have any questions about your health.
