Resources

Hearing wellness update:
The hidden costs of untreated hearing loss

Treating hearing loss is a life journey. The average person waits an average of seven years after first noticing hearing difficulties before seeking treatment for hearing loss. This delay in seeking treatment can lead to negative impacts on quality of life, employment, education, and mental health.

• Untreated hearing loss linked to depression and social isolation in seniors: https://www.audiology.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Untreated-Hearing-Loss-Linked-to-Depression-Social-Isolation-in-Seniors.pdf
• Information about hearing loss in the workplace: https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/hearing-loss-in-the-workplace

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Impairment

The correlation between hearing and cognitive decline is an active area of research. Dr. Frank Lin’s research at Johns Hopkins University has been particularly groundbreaking in this area, finding that:

• Mild hearing loss doubles dementia risk
• Moderate hearing loss triples dementia risk
• Severe hearing losses increased dementia risk by five times

• Hearing Loss and the Dementia Connection:
  https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/hearing-loss-and-the-dementia-connection
• The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss:
  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss
• Hearing Loss Accelerates Brain Function Decline in Older Adults:
  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/hearing_loss_accelerates_brain_function_decline_in_older_adults
• Researchers explore the link between age-related hearing loss and dementia:
  https://www.jhunewsletter.com/article/2021/12/hopkins-researchers-explore-the-link-between-hearing-loss-and-dementia

The good news is that hearing loss in our mid to late life periods is identified as the single-largest potential modifiable risk factor for dementia. Recent studies suggest that hearing aid may alter the cognitive trajectory in older adults to optimize hearing and cognitive well-being. Early intervention of hearing loss can:

• Reduce the cognitive load of processing degraded sound
• Provide increased brain stimulation
• Improve social engagement

Academic Articles on the use of hearing aids and cognitive health

• Longitudinal Relationship Between Hearing Aid Use and Cognitive Function in Older Americans https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15363
• Full-text pdf or the article is available here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6105402/
• Longitudinal associations between hearing aid usage and cognition in community-dwelling Japanese older adults with moderate hearing loss https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8513843/

Recommended Books

Coping with hearing loss:

• Author Gael Hannen: The Way I Hear it! https://www.gaelhannan.com/
• Authors Gael Hannen and Shari Eberts: Hear & Beyond: Living Skillfully with hearing loss https://livingwithhearingloss.com/hearandbeyond/

For musicians concerned about their hearing:

• Dr. Marshall Chasin: Hear the Music: Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians https://www.amazon.ca/Hear-Music-Hearing-Prevention-Musicians/dp/0920445748

For individuals living with Tinnitus:

• Dr. Richard Tyler: The Consumer Handbook on Tinnitus https://www.amazon.ca/Consumer-Handbook-Tinnitus-Richard-Tyler/dp/0966182677
• Audiologist J.L. Mayes: Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook Tinnitus Toolbox Hyperacusis Handbook: Second Edition: Mayes, Jan L.: 9781775270546: Books - Amazon.ca

Useful Apps

Speech to Text apps for in-person interaction:

To enhance communication, several apps have been created to caption speech on a screen for people who rely on visual cues especially due to mask-wearing and communication through plexiglass or background noises! A lack of visual cues makes communication more challenging, particularly with a person who has a hearing loss.

We are always on the look-out for innovative technology; here are the best apps we have found for speech to text functions:

• Android users: Live Transribe by Google
• For IOS users: NAL Scribe

Speech to text app for all cellphone use:

Phonak myCall-to-text app is designed to support Hard of hearing and Deaf people on their cell phone. It is free when both parties have downloaded the app which will supply a live transcription of the mobile conversation. There is a monthly charge otherwise for the ability to call anyone. This app can be downloaded on Google Play and the App Store.

• Live Captions for Iphone (iOS 16 and above):
  https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/iphone/iphe0990f7bb/ios#:~:text=With%20Live%20Captions%20(beta)%2C,in%20live%20conversations%20around%20you)
• Live Captions for select Google Pixel phones:
  Translate speech to text with Live Caption - Android Accessibility Help (google.com)

External Related Links

• Canadian Academy of Audiology: https://canadianaudiology.ca/
• Speech-Language & Audiology Canada: https://www.sac-oac.ca/about-sac/about-sac
• British Tinnitus Association: https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/
• American Tinnitus Association: https://www.ata.org/
• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association: https://www.chha.ca/
• Adult speechreading classes at Vancouver Community College: https://www.vcc.ca/courses/dhhe-0618/
• Adult Provincial Cochlear Implant Program: https://www.providencehealthcare.org/en/clinics/bc-adult-cochlear-implant-program
• The Lin Research Group’s Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health: https://www.jhucochlearcenter.org/