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Lori Lovato MA, Audiologist
What the Updated WHO Guidance Says About Hearing and Cognitive Health
September marks World Alzheimer’s Month, a global campaign to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This year, it provides an opportunity to consider the role that looking after our hearing can play as part of a broader approach to protecting our health and well-being as we age.
Recent guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially named hearing loss challenges as a potentially modifiable risk factor associated with dementia. Under the revised recommendations, hearing aids may be offered to adults with identified hearing difficulties, when clinically appropriate, as part of a broader strategy to reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
Taking action when you notice changes to your hearing can support clearer communication and a more proactive approach to healthy aging.
Understanding the Brain-Hearing Connection
When you experience hearing difficulties, even mild ones, your brain has to work harder to make sense of the sounds around you. Instead of receiving a clear signal, it may need to fill in gaps or distinguish speech from background noise. This extra effort can make listening more mentally demanding, particularly in busy or noisy environments.
Over time, the additional effort required to follow conversations can leave you feeling mentally exhausted and make it harder to maintain focus. When you need more effort and attention to follow what is being said, you may have less capacity available for other tasks, such as remembering information or responding.
Hearing difficulties can also affect how often you engage with others. When conversations become tiring or difficult to follow, it’s natural to avoid busy social settings or decline invitations. This can lead to reduced social engagement and isolation, which are both associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline.
The WHO’s Updated Guidance: What Changed?
The updated guidance acknowledges the association between unaddressed hearing difficulties and cognitive decline, which means that hearing care now has a more prominent place in the WHO’s wider approach to healthy aging and dementia risk reduction.
This doesn't mean that hearing aids can prevent or cure dementia, but they can provide better access to sound and speech. For many people, this can make conversations easier to follow, reduce listening effort, and support more confident participation in everyday life.
Your First Step: A Comprehensive Hearing Assessment
The first and most crucial step is understanding where your hearing health stands today, which is where a comprehensive hearing assessment becomes important.
This thorough evaluation allows us to build a complete picture of your auditory system and how it’s interacting with your brain. You’ll leave our office with a clear understanding of your hearing and a personalized plan that puts your long-term health first.
Contact our team at Highline Hearing today to schedule an appointment or request a callback and begin your journey toward better hearing with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can getting hearing aids reverse dementia?
A: Hearing aids do not reverse Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. However, the WHO’s guidance highlights that by treating hearing loss challenges, you can help mitigate a significant risk factor associated with cognitive decline.
Restoring access to sound reduces the cognitive load on your brain and helps you remain socially active, both of which are crucial for supporting brain health. The goal is to reduce strain and support your brain’s function.
Q: My hearing changes are only mild. Should I still get my ears checked?
A: Absolutely. Even mild challenges to your hearing can force your brain to work harder, though research shows the risk of cognitive decline increases with the severity of the hearing difficulties.
Many people don’t realize how much they're compensating for their hearing loss until they experience the clarity that professionally fitted hearing technology provides. An early assessment gives you a crucial baseline and allows you to take proactive steps before the mental strain becomes more pronounced.
Q: Why should I see an audiologist instead of buying a device online?
A: An audiologist provides a level of care that a simple online transaction cannot. At Highline Hearing, we conduct comprehensive assessments to rule out underlying medical issues and understand your unique hearing profile. We then help you select the right technology, with access to all manufacturers, and use our expertise to program and verify that the technology is working for your brain’s specific needs.
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Lori Lovato MA, Audiologist
Lori is a lifelong resident of the Tri-Cities. She and her husband Anthony are proud to be raising their family here. She attended Washington State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences and her master’s degree in audiology. Lori began practicing audiology in the Tri-Cities in 1993. During this time, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including private practice and ear, nose, and throat physicians’ offices. She has spent her career focused on assisting those with hearing difficulties through the use of hearing aids, listening strategies, assistive devices, and counseling. She is experienced in working with both adult and pediatric patients. It is important to Lori to develop close relationships with each and every patient, as she helps them develop better communication strategies to live a fuller life.
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