The UK’s leading hearing loss organisations have joined forces to highlight misleading reports by some health professionals and the media that hearing loss causes dementia, and treating hearing loss will reduce our individual risk of dementia.
In a position statement published today, British Society of Audiology, the British Academy of Audiology and the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists say the misinformation is promoting a sense of alarm and stigma around hearing loss, and may discourage people experiencing hearing difficulties from seeking help.
They also argue the focus on what causes the co-occurrence of hearing loss and dementia could inadvertently distract from much needed research on how to assess and help people who live with both conditions.
The statement published by the organisations provides a more balanced view of the link between the two, arguing there is no evidence to support or refute either of the claims.
Factors which are predictive of dementia include depression, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, lower levels of education, and social isolation. Hearing loss comes much further down the ranking and has a clear but weak association.
The lead author Kevin Munro, Professor of Audiology at The University of Manchester, said: “It is true that hearing loss and dementia both increase with age. But it does not follow that one causes the other.
“Social responsibility is paramount, and any misleading negative messaging may distract from the importance of good hearing in its own right.
“Hearing loss is a huge challenge because it ranks third in terms of years lived with a disability.“
https://www.thebsa.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Position-statement-HL-and-dementia-a-guide-for-hearing-professionals-Nov-2024.pdf
