Why making your hearing a priority matters for your general health and happiness.

Hearing well isn't just about ears, it’s about staying connected, engaged, and fully present in life. When hearing loss goes untreated, the consequences can run deeper than you might expect: links exist to dementia, social isolation, depression, falls, and even increased mortality. Ensuring your hearing is cared for isn’t just about preserving sound, it’s about protecting your quality of life.

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Hearing Loss and Balance

Because the auditory and vestibular systems are housed side by side in the inner ear, there’s a natural anatomical and functional connection. Our organ of hearing, known as the cochlea, converts sound into electrical impulses that the brain can understand, where as the vestibular organs (semicircular canals, saccule, utricle) help with balance and spatial orientation. When the inner ear is damaged, signals relevant to balance can degrade or become inconsistent, increasing the risk of dizziness, unsteadiness, and falls.

Researchers have shown that even a mild sensorineural hearing loss can lead to a three-fold increase in the risk of falls, citing degradation to the inner ear structures and reduced environmental awareness that accompanies untreated hearing loss¹. So for those living with balance difficulties, vertigo, or unsteadiness, untreated hearing loss may exacerbate challenges in daily movement, physical activity, and confidence in mobility.

Hearing Loss & Mental Health (Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness)

Hearing decline can erode communication ease. As difficulties grow in conversations, many begin to withdraw socially or avoid gatherings altogether, which in turn can fuel loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

Recent studies are showing the connection between hearing loss and mental health. A 25‑year prospective study found that older adults reporting hearing problems had an increased risk of dementia, disability, and depression (particularly in men)². Another study focusing on older adults found that untreated hearing loss was significantly associated with emotional loneliness (i.e. lack of close, intimate connection), which is tied to increased stress and depressive symptoms³.

If you've noticed you're starting to withdraw from social interactions, schedule a session for Social-Communication Coaching to develop a plan to get you back in your social stride.

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Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline (Dementia)

There is increasingly strong evidence linking hearing loss with cognitive decline, including dementia. While hearing loss does not directly “cause” dementia (the relationship is complex and likely multi-factorial), untreated hearing loss seems to contribute to increased risk.

A longitudinal study of over 573,000 people found that hearing loss was associated with a higher risk of dementia. Interestingly, those who used hearing aids had a lower risk compared to those with untreated hearing loss, suggesting hearing aid use may help reduce the risk of developing dementia⁴. Furthermore, researchers have reported increasing dementia risk with increased severity of hearing loss where mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia and severe hearing loss showed a five-fold increase⁵.

Mechanisms proposed include⁶:

1. Cognitive load hypothesis: the brain must work harder to “fill in” missing sounds, diverting resources from memory or other processing tasks.
2. Brain structure changes / atrophy: reduced auditory stimulation may accelerate degeneration in auditory and related brain regions.
3. Social isolation / reduced cognitive stimulation: as communication becomes harder, social withdrawal reduces mental engagement and “brain exercise.”
4. Shared risk factors or vascular disease: hearing loss and cognitive decline may share underlying vascular or metabolic paths (e.g. microvascular disease).

"Untreated hearing loss is linked to dementia, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and increased risk of falls - among other health conditions."

Hearing loss impacts the whole body

Hearing loss is more than a sensory issue, it's a whole-body issue. Untreated hearing loss can influence your balance, mood, cognition, social connections, and overall longevity. The evidence growing from epidemiological, longitudinal, and mechanistic research underscores just how impactful hearing is to holistic health.

If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, or have delayed addressing them, now is the time to take action. An exploratory consultation or hearing wellness consultation can help you understand your hearing health, explore options (including hearing aids or other strategies), and chart a path that supports your future well-being.

You deserve a life in sound, connection, and vitality, don’t let untreated hearing loss rob you of it.

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References:

1. Lin FR. Hearing Loss and Falls among Older Adults in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2012;172(4):369. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2011.728
2. Amieva H, Ouvrard C, Meillon C, Rullier L, Dartigues JF. Death, Depression, Disability, and Dementia Associated With Self-reported Hearing Problems: A 25-Year Study. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A. 2018;73(10):1383-1389. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glx250
3. Jayakody DMP, Wishart J, Stegeman I, et al. Is There an Association Between Untreated Hearing Loss and Psychosocial Outcomes? Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2022;14. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.868673
4. Manuella Lech Cantuaria, Ellen Raben Pedersen, Frans Boch Waldorff, et al. Hearing Loss, Hearing Aid Use, and Risk of Dementia in Older Adults. JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery. 2024;150(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2023.3509
5. Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Zonderman AB, Ferrucci L. Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Archives of Neurology. 2011;68(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/archneurol.2010.362
6. Deal JA, Reed NS, Kravetz AD, et al. Incident Hearing Loss and Comorbidity. JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. 2019;145(1):36. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoto.2018.2876