The British and Irish Hearing Instrument Manufacturer’s Association (BIHIMA) and Alzheimer’s UK are urging people to get their hearing checked regularly to reduce the risk of developing dementia. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University, using hearing instruments is associated with a 32% lower prevalence of dementia. Research indicates that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented if 12 risk factors were eliminated, one of which is hearing loss.
The new digital tool encourages people to address factors that could reduce their risk of dementia, including sleep, diet and getting their hearing checked.
To help people understand their own risks, Alzheimer’s Research UK launched a new digital tool called Think Brain Health Check-In that encourages people to address factors that could reduce their risk of dementia, including sleep, diet and getting their hearing checked.
Hearing loss can have a significant impact on people’s day-to-day lives, and the most recent UK EuroTrak data revealed that 95% of people wearing hearing instruments said it had improved their quality of life. Still, 66% of people wished they had obtained their hearing instruments sooner. According to Dr. Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK, people with untreated hearing loss are five times more likely to develop dementia than those without hearing loss.
A YouGov poll commissioned by Alzheimer’s UK showed that 35% of people surveyed had concerns about their hearing, but more than half (59%) of these people said they hadn’t done anything about those concerns.
“While there’s no sure-fire way to prevent dementia, which is caused by a complex mix of our age, genes, and lifestyle, we know that there are steps we can all take that could reduce our risk. This includes getting our hearing checked. Research has shown that people with unaddressed hearing loss are five times more likely to develop dementia than those without hearing loss.”
—Dr. Susan Mitchell, Head of Policy at Alzheimer’s Research UK
Dr. Susan Mitchell
Dr. Mitchell believes that integrating a hearing check within the NHS Health Check, freely available for over 40s in England, is one potential way to reduce barriers to getting a hearing check. BIHIMA is making similar calls to healthcare services and believes that hearing health should be prioritized as much as visual health. The industry body is currently supporting primary care providers and audiologists with a new campaign encouraging patients to get their hearing checked sooner.
Paul Surridge, BIHIMA Chairman, hopes that this campaign will encourage people to take the first step in helping their hearing and improving their prospects for the future.
Paul Surridge
According to Surridge, one of the most significant challenges preventing people from getting the hearing care they need is a lack of awareness, as people don’t believe that anything can be done to improve their hearing. Therefore, the industry body hopes that the campaign will reach as many people as possible in the community and encourage them to take that first step to help their hearing. Additionally, Dr. Mitchell stresses that the hearing and health industry should continue research to make a stronger case for increasing funding into health campaigns, improving access to hearing tests, and ensuring the journey to having a hearing instrument fitted is smoother. Research must continue to determine the benefits of hearing aids and their impact on dementia risk.
Find out more about Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Think Brain Health Check-in here
Source: BIHIMA, Alzheimer’s Research UK
