hearing-solutions-of-western-kentucky

How hearing loss and loneliness can impact heart health

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:59:31 GMT

How hearing loss and loneliness can impact heart health

It is now widely known that hearing loss can affect overall health. In other words, if we choose not to treat our hearing loss, we may be putting ourselves at risk for health issues that span from problematic to pretty serious.

For example, we know that communication hardships associated with hearing loss can result in social withdrawal—which, unfortunately, can impact mental health and increase the risk of cognitive decline , according to research.

But did you also know that hearing loss is linked to physical health disorders like cardiovascular disease ? Today’s new hearing fact adds a related condition to this category, with recent research revealing that hearing loss—along with associated factors social isolation and mental distress—may be linked to a higher risk of heart failure .

Let’s take a closer look at the study behind today’s hearing fact and how it might guide us to be proactive about our hearing health as we age.

Study examined link between hearing ability and heart failure risk

Researchers from the UK investigated the relationship between hearing capability and the risk of incident heart failure. During the study, which centered around 164,431 participants, they observed:

Incident heart failure (through hospital admissions and death records)
Speech-in-noise hearing ability
Speech reception threshold (or the quietest level at which people can identify 50% of spoken words)
The role of social isolation, psychological distress, and neuroticism

The results:

A “median follow-up” of 11.7 years uncovered that 4,449 of the participants developed incident heart failure.

It also found that:

Increased speech reception threshold levels correlated with a higher risk of heart failure
Compared to participants with normal hearing, those with hearing loss had increased heart failure risks
Psychological distress played a “notable mediating role” in the correlation between hearing loss and increased heart failure risk

These findings emphasize that hearing loss may increase our risk of heart failure. Additionally, the mental components linked to hearing issues (particularly psychological distress from social isolation) may also play a strong role in mediating the association between hearing loss and heart failure likelihood.

With these results in mind, the researchers concluded that:

“Hearing loss may serve as a potential marker for heart failure risk, highlighting the importance of integrating hearing health assessments into cardiovascular risk evaluation frameworks.”

Hearing aids may reduce the impact of social isolation on overall health

So, we now understand that leaving hearing loss untreated can cause social isolation, which may not only decrease our overall life happiness but also increase the risk of serious health issues.

By treating our hearing loss through hearing aids, however, we can lower our risk of social isolation and its impact on our overall health.

After all, better hearing can help us:

Maintain relationships.

Improved communication with the help of hearing aids allows us to stay connected with important people in our lives such as family, friends, and caregivers, and maintain a strong support network we can count on.

Stay active.

Better hearing can boost our confidence and capability to sustain a full, active lifestyle. This may include taking courses, hiking with friends, volunteering, and more: Hearing everything from instructions to outdoor sounds to conversations can contribute to a healthier, more fulfilling quality of life.

Socialize.

Hearing our best can help make socializing more enjoyable—so we’re much more likely to do it. Having the self-assurance to start conversations, schedule plans with others, and attend gatherings (busy restaurants included) means we can experience the joy of never having to miss another moment.

Let’s face it, we’ve got a lot of living to do and a lot of enjoyment to be had with the people we care about. So, when it comes to healthy aging, why not be proactive? Get your hearing evaluated and treat any hearing loss you may have.

One simple visit to a hearing care professional can go a long way towards maintaining your best quality of life into the future. Schedule an appointment today for a hearing consultation.

How the brain helps us hear sound from all around

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 12:08:56 GMT

How the brain helps us hear sound from all around

Cutest thing ever, right? That is, when a dog or cat’s ears physically turn toward the direction of a sound when it occurs. Truth be told, this is how many different types of mammals actively hear.

Speaking of mammals, now imagine if humans did that—feel free to laugh; it’s not something we normally see. That’s because people lost their ability to do this about 25 million years ago . However, a recent study reveals that our brain has since taken charge to make up for this long-lost ability.

Curious to learn more? Let’s explore this study behind today’s hearing fact, its results, and how hearing technology can help us maintain hearing from every direction.

Researchers study brain’s electrical activity during movement

The study involved volunteers wearing electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors (which record the brain’s electrical activity) and motion sensors,. They were then asked to walk in a figure-eight-shaped path while listening to nonstop sound coming from their headphones.

As the walking commenced, the researchers observed a noticeable “boost” in participants’ sound processing. When they began to turn, the brain adapted even more strongly while “prioritizing” sounds in the direction of the turn. As they continued down the path, researchers found that the brain’s focus “switched sides” with each turn, “as if panning from one stereo speaker to another, or physically turning an ear towards the sound.”

These results suggest that humans have an internal form of ear swiveling, that—according to researcher Liyu Cao of Zhejiang University—may show a biological adjustment that evolved over time, to keep us safe.

He adds in a New Scientist article , “This might allow for faster reaction times and safer navigation in dynamic environments.”

Moreover, the study uncovers that, as opposed to other mammals whose ears physically pivot in the direction of sounds, our brain is replacing this lost ability by choosing the direction it wants us to hear most intently.

Hearing technology can help us maintain directionality

As shown in the research, directionality is a natural process within hearing that helps keep us aware of our surroundings. Hearing loss, however, impacts this by reducing our ability to hear sound in different directions. This has the potential to affect our overall safety and spatial awareness (or our ability to understand our body’s orientation in relation to our surroundings).

For example, research has shown that untreated hearing loss is linked to a 3X higher risk of falls and an increased risk of accidental injury .

On the bright side, treating our hearing loss through hearing aids can effectively help us maintain awareness of our surroundings at every turn.

Let’s take Starkey’s Omega AI hearing aids , for example. These innovative devices are designed with a built-in directionality system that uses AI intelligence to intuitively detect speech, background, and motion, and adjust accordingly.

What this means for us, is that we:

Maintain our awareness by hearing key environmental sounds and the start of speech more clearly.
Understand speech in noise with greater clarity, helping us stay engaged in conversations.
Hear as we go —our hearing seamlessly adapts as we move through different listening environments (room to room, situation to situation).

So, in the end, we can navigate different listening situations with a genuine sense of connection and clarity—without compromising on spatial awareness. And the ripple effect, of course, is that we can more easily maintain our independence and overall well-being as we age.

Seeing a professional—the right direction for better hearing

If you think you have hearing loss, know that maintaining your best hearing in every direction may be easier than you think.

Hearing care professionals can evaluate your hearing—and if it turns out you do have hearing loss, they can help you find the best solution for your individual needs. Find out what noises you may be missing! Schedule an appointment today for a hearing consultation.

Why we should monitor our hearing and vision as we age

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:15:40 GMT

Why we should monitor our hearing and vision as we age

This hearing fact just in: Vision loss has joined hearing loss on the list of modifiable risk factors for dementia, according to the latest report by the Lancet Commission on Dementia, Prevention, Intervention and Care.

According to the report , “increasing evidence supports an association between untreated vision loss and dementia risk and potential modification by treatment.”

This update follows the Lancet’s 2020 report , which named hearing loss the number one potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia .

(It’s worth noting that the latest report stated, “the evidence that hearing loss decreases the risk of dementia is now stronger than when our previous Commission was published. Use of hearing aids appears to be particularly effective in people with hearing loss and additional risk factors for dementia.”)

So, how did vision loss make the list and how does this sensory loss relate to hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia? Let’s discuss.

Untreated vision loss, cataracts found to increase dementia risk

According to the Lancet’s report, considerable new evidence has emerged that points to untreated vision loss as a modifiable risk factor for dementia. This includes the following:

After an examination of 14 cohort studies, the Commission found that adults with untreated vision loss faced a 47% increased dementia risk .
Another analysis revealed that cataracts (or clouding of the eye’s lens, resulting in blurry vision) and retina damage caused by diabetes were strongly linked to dementia .
Follow-up research found that people with cataract extractions experienced a 29% decrease in dementia risk over people who did not have the extractions.

The Lancet concluded that “a clear opportunity for dementia prevention exists with treatment of visual loss.”

Vision loss and hearing loss have similar dementia risk factors

Interestingly, untreated hearing loss and vision loss share some similar risk factors for dementia. These include:

Structural changes to the brain

When it comes to untreated vision loss, the retina’s position as central nervous system tissue with a direct, unshielded connection to the brain (sending signals which the brain interprets as images) may play a part in structural changes in the brain associated with dementia.

A recent study by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, for example, found that changes to the retina correlated with changes in the brain associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Yosef Koronyo , MSc, a research associate and author of the study confirmed that these “changes in the retina correlated with changes in parts of the brain called the entorhinal and temporal cortices, a hub for memory, navigation, and the perception of time.”

How structural changes to the brain are associated with hearing loss:

The brain naturally shrinks as we age. But according to Johns Hopkins research , the lack of stimulation in the brain’s temporal lobe (where speech and sound are processed) caused by untreated hearing loss has been shown to speed up this loss of brain tissue. This accelerated brain atrophy (or shrinkage), can impact the ability to think and remember.

Added cognitive load

Whether you have untreated vision loss or untreated hearing loss, you may be putting yourself at risk for cognitive load, or brain strain. This happens when our sensory loss causes everyday tasks or other interactions to become more challenging.

As a result, the brain spends too much time trying to process what it is seeing or what it is hearing, leaving fewer mental resources to spend on thinking and memory.

Reduced participation, social isolation

When it becomes difficult to perform everyday tasks outside the home or spend time with others due to vision loss or hearing loss, the result can be the inclination to isolate and, consequentially, develop loneliness.

While diminishing quality of life, this situation can also increase the risk of dementia, according to research .

Maintain your senses with help from a professional

Realistically, we would seek treatment if our vision declined, right? So, why wouldn’t we do the same for hearing loss? As our discussion shows, both senses play major roles in our daily lives, quality of life, and overall health.

So, let’s take today’s hearing fact as an important reminder of how essential it is to monitor our eyes and ears regularly and to treat any loss—sooner rather than later.

Find out what noises you may be missing! Schedule an appointment today for a hearing consultation .

hearing-solutions-of-western-kentucky

How hearing loss and loneliness can impact heart health

How hearing loss and loneliness can impact heart health ﻿

How the brain helps us hear sound from all around

How the brain helps us hear sound from all around ﻿

Why we should monitor our hearing and vision as we age

Why we should monitor our hearing and vision as we age ﻿

How hearing loss and loneliness can impact heart health

How the brain helps us hear sound from all around

Why we should monitor our hearing and vision as we age