Hearing changes don’t always happen suddenly. They often develop gradually, and you may adapt without realizing it. You might find yourself concentrating more closely during conversations, asking people to repeat themselves, or feeling unusually tired after spending time with others. 

It’s easy to overlook experiences like these or assume they’re simply part of getting older, but they can be signs that your hearing has changed. 

Reflecting this evolving evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its dementia risk-reduction guidance to include hearing aids, where clinically appropriate, among the interventions that may be offered to adults with hearing loss challenges. 

The updated guidance draws attention to dementia and the many factors that can influence brain health as we age. Hearing is increasingly part of this conversation, as research continues to explore the relationship between hearing and cognitive health. 

How Hearing Challenges Can Affect Everyday Life 

Hearing difficulties can affect more than how clearly you hear individual sounds. When speech is harder to distinguish, your brain may need to put in extra effort to fill in gaps and work out what has been said. You might find yourself concentrating more closely or using facial expressions and the context of the conversation to help you follow along. 

This added effort can make listening feel more tiring, especially in busy environments where background noise makes it harder to separate speech from other sounds.  

If conversations regularly become frustrating or exhausting, you may also find yourself taking part less often in social situations. Over time, this withdrawal from social interaction can lead to isolation, which is another risk factor associated with cognitive decline. 

What the Updated WHO Guidance Means for You 

The WHO has recognized hearing difficulties as a risk factor for cognitive decline since its first dementia risk-reduction guidance in 2019. Its latest update builds on that earlier guidance and marks the first time the WHO has formally recommended hearing aids as a key intervention for adults with hearing challenges, where clinically appropriate. 

This does not mean that hearing aids prevent or cure dementia. The updated guidance places hearing care within a broader approach to reducing the risk of cognitive decline, alongside other areas such as physical activity, social engagement, and managing conditions that can affect cognitive health. 

When Was Your Last Hearing Assessment?

You don’t have to wait until hearing difficulties begin to interfere with your daily life before having your hearing checked. Even subtle changes can be worth discussing, and an assessment can help you understand how you’re hearing now while providing a useful baseline for the future. 

If hearing loss challenges are identified, addressing them may make everyday communication easier, support your social connections, and form one part of looking after your long-term well-being as you age. 

If you’ve noticed a change in your hearing or simply want greater clarity about your hearing health, contact Utah Ear Institute to schedule an appointment or request a callback. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q: What happens during a hearing assessment? 

A: A comprehensive hearing assessment is a thorough, multistep process designed to give you a clear picture of your hearing health. It begins with a conversation about your health history, hearing experiences, and any concerns you may have. 

Your hearing care professional will then examine your ears before assessing how well you hear and understand speech at different levels and in different listening conditions. The process is comfortable and painless, providing the detailed information needed to understand your hearing and identify any areas that may require further attention. 

Q: How often should I have my hearing checked? 

A: The appropriate schedule depends on a number of factors, such as your age, hearing history, health, and noise exposure. 

A baseline assessment provides a valuable point of comparison, while follow-up evaluations can identify gradual changes. Your hearing care professional will help you determine a good frequency for checkups, but you should always arrange an appointment sooner if you experience a sudden change, a noticeable difference between your ears, or new symptoms such as tinnitus. 

Q: Should I have my hearing checked if my difficulties are only mild? 

A: Yes. Even mild hearing changes can make understanding speech more demanding, particularly when several people are speaking or background noise is present.  

An assessment can detect subtle changes and help determine whether monitoring or additional support would be beneficial. 

Sources: 

• The Hearing Review: WHO Updates Dementia Prevention Guidelines 

• World Health Organization: Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines