Image: Contributed
Typically, when we consider dementia, we tend to picture ourselves or our loved ones forgetting words, locations and faces.
Furthermore, we think of difficulty with mood regulation, planning and becoming more reliant on others. Even at the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, a sufferer’s memory, thought or motor processing, and confidence can be affected.
There are many factors that can impact the onset and progression of dementia. Hearing loss is not only known to be one of these factors, but has been deemed the No. 1 most modifiable risk factor of dementia, according to recent studies.
Lakeside Hearing and their team of experienced audiologists want to help maintain everyone’s hearing and cognitive health.
How is hearing loss impacting dementia? Although not entirely understood, there are three leading ideas.
• The first is social isolation, which is the result of those with hearing loss missing parts of conversations and then not taking part in them at all.
• The next is decreased brain activation, which occurs when hearing loss sufferers detect less environmental information and therefore get less of it sent to your brain.
• Finally, cognitive overload happens because someone with hearing loss struggles to keep up with the flow of conversation and the brain over exerts itself to try and listen.
Dr. Nichole Sorensen, a doctor of audiology and owner of Lakeside Hearing, will discuss the aforementioned topics on Jan. 22 at the Kelowna clinic and on Jan. 24 at the Lake Country clinic. She will offer suggestions on how one can help protect and enhance cognitive health through proper hearing management.
She will be joined by 46-year-old Michelle Davies, who will speak about her real life experience with hearing loss and how she has taken steps to maintain her cognitive function with her hearing aids. Davies will also share a personal view on different hearing aid technologies she has tried.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask the questions that matter most to them, as well as register for a free hearing screening, qualify for a $500 credit toward treatment options and even be entered into a draw to win a set of Signia 7X hearing aids valued at $5,390.
Register for your free spot today at LakesideHearing.com/Brain.
This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Okanagan Edge.
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