In recognition of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, Better Hearing Solutions is joining the Better Hearing Institute (BHI), a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Early Detection Alliance (AEDA), in urging caregivers to address hearing loss in people with Alzheimer’s and to pay attention to their own hearing health.  Better Hearing Solutions will be raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, the importance of early diagnosis, the relationship between Alzheimer’s and hearing loss, and the importance of addressing hearing loss in people with Alzheimer’s.

“There are many families within our community coping with Alzheimer’s and the challenges it presents,” says Janette Call, BC-HIS, and Better Hearing Solutions. “At Better Hearing Solutions, we want to help ensure that the hearing health of those in our community with Alzheimer’s is appropriately managed. Hearing loss, when left unaddressed, can compound the difficulties that people with Alzheimer’s and their families already face. But in many cases, the appropriate use of hearing aids can benefit people with Alzheimer’s.”

There is strong evidence that hearing impairment contributes to the progression of cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Unmanaged hearing loss can interrupt the cognitive processing of spoken language and sound, regardless of other coexisting conditions. But when an individual has both Alzheimer’s and hearing loss, many of the symptoms of hearing loss can interact with those common to Alzheimer’s, making the disease more difficult than it might be if the hearing loss had been addressed.

Studies have shown that although a significantly higher percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease may have hearing loss than their normally aging peers, they are much less likely to receive attention for their hearing needs.

“A comprehensive hearing assessment should be part of any Alzheimer’s diagnosis and any hearing loss should be addressed,” says Call. “By addressing the hearing loss, we can help improve quality-of-life for those who have Alzheimer’s and help them live as fully as possible.”

Numerous studies have linked untreated hearing loss to a wide range of physical and emotional conditions, including impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks, reduced alertness, increased risk to personal safety, irritability, negativism, anger, fatigue, tension, stress, depression, and diminished psychological and overall health.

Better Hearing Solutions is urging caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s to also address their own hearing health—recognizing the negative impact that untreated hearing loss can have on their own quality of life and emotional well-being. Caregivers can determine if they need a comprehensive hearing check by a hearing professional by taking a free, quick, and confidential online hearing test  at betterhearingsolutions.net.

Sergei Kochkin, PhD, BHI’s executive director says: “Alzheimer’s disease is a heart-wrenching illness that poses many challenges for the individual, family and caregiver.  Early detection, diagnosis, and intervention are critical because they provide the best opportunities for treatment, support, and planning. Now, with the holidays upon us, when we are seeing family and friends more frequently after many months, it is important that each of us remain vigilant to the early signs of Alzheimer’s in the people we love.”

About Alzheimer’s Disease (Source: Alzheimer’s Association)

Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Today, an estimated 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and they are supported by nearly 15 million caregivers. Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. (Source: Alzheimer’s Association) 

 Any individual experiencing one or more of the following 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s should see a doctor to find the cause:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life
• Challenges in planning or solving problems
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure
• Confusion with time or place
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
• New problems with words in speaking or writing
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
• Decreased or poor judgment
• Withdrawal from work or social activities
• Changes in mood and personality

 For more information about the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's disease, early detection and diagnosis, contact the Alzheimer's Association at 877.IS.IT.ALZ (877.474.8259) or visit www.alz.org/10signs.

For more information about hearing loss and a Complementary Hearing Screening contact Better Hearing Solutions at 547-2888 or 883-2223 or click here.