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In each episode we'll share stories of determination, hope, self-discovery, and triumph. The Hearing Wellness Journey Podcast is about hearing disorders, but it's also so much more.

Be a part of a community of people who are supportive, share their wins, but are also aware of the limitations hearing loss can bring.

Retrain your brain to more efficiently navigate through this self-guided program, so you can better here the  sounds of life and feel more a part of the conversation.

AARP published an article in April of 2015 which said in part, “A 2013 study, by Dr. Frank Lin and his colleagues at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland tracked the overall cognitive abilities (including concentration, memory and planning skills) of nearly 2,000 older adults whose average age was 77. After six years, those who began the study with hearing loss severe enough to interfere with conversation were 24 percent more likely than those with normal hearing to see their cognitive abilities diminish. Essentially, the researchers said, hearing loss seemed to speed up age-related cognitive decline, some 30 percent to 40 percent faster than in those whose hearing was normal.

In a 2011 study focusing on dementia, Lin and his colleagues monitored the cognitive health of 639 people who were mentally sharp when the study began. The researchers tested the volunteers’ mental abilities regularly, following most for about 12 years, and some for as long as 18 years. The results were striking: the worse the initial hearing loss was, the more likely the person was to develop dementia. Compared with people of normal hearing, those with moderate hearing loss had triple the risk. "

https://www.jhucochlearcenter.org/

"There's evidence that improving hearing will improve cognition, and there might even be more significant connections there. We know improving hearing decreases the risk of social isolation, depression - which we know are connected with falls, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease," says Dr. Colin Driscoll, Head and Neck Surgeon.

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/

Dementia Prevention, Intervention, and Care: 2020 Report of the Lancet Commission. "Key message: Encourage the use of hearing aids for hearing loss and reduce hearing loss by protection of ears from excessive noise exposure because hearing loss was found to be 1 of 9 modifiable risk factors for dementia." "Hearing aid use was the largest factor protecting from decline."

https://www.thelancet.com/

Perelman School of Medicine reports that declines in hearing ability may accelerate gray matter atrophy in areas of the brain and increase listening effort necessary to comprehend speech. "As hearing ability declines with age, interventions such as hearing aids should be considered not only to improving hearing but to preserve the brain," said lead author Jonathan Peelle, PhD, research associate in the Department of Neurology. "People hear differently, and those with even moderate hearing loss may have to work harder to understand complex sentences."

Peele J. The neural consequences of age-related hearing loss. Trends Neurosci. 2016 Jul;39(7):486-497.

their Institute of Cognitive Science and Center for Neuroscience reports that even in early stages of hearing loss, the brain appears to re-organize and the areas that process sound are no longer as stimulate. Researchers found it took more effort on the listeners to hear and they needed to rely on their visual senses to help understand, in as early as 3 months after the hearing changed.

Sharma A, Glick H. Cortical neuroplasticity in hearing loss: Why it matters in clinical decision-making for children and adults. Hearing Review. 2018;25(7):20-24.

There is no question that hearing loss can lead to social isolation and depression that may exacerbate any appearance of cognitive decline, and that the constant perceptual effort resulting from reduced hearing acuity can be a source of stress and mental fatigue. 

Mental distress and quality of life in the hard of hearing. Fellinger J, Holzinger D, Gerich J, Goldberg D. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2007 Mar; 115(3):243-5. 

"Exceptional, wonderful, unbeatable office for professional and kind help! As a retired physician I have a sense for integrity and commitment to one's practice. At Advanced Audiology you will not go wrong. You will be treated appropriately, correctly, and with care and consideration. The entire staff is exceptional, ethical, and smart. I have absolutely no hesitstion in giving these wonderful people the highest recommendation."

"I've never felt better cared for from a Dr. Always plenty of time for appointment, extra care with covid cleaning. Dr Dawn goes out of her way to educate patients on available hearing devices and options. She even offers trails when needing new devices. Lots of time spent listening to my needs, even when I didn't buy the most expensive device. She will help any patient who is needing a new Audiologist. She's the best."

"I’ve been wearing hearing aids for over 10 years and Dr. Heiman is the first audiologist that has taken the time to truly assist me with not only the proper fitting but making sure that my hearing aids are dialed in correctly. She is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I highly recommend Advanced Audiology Consultants."