Everyone knows that a lobster boat can be a loud place to work. The diesel engine roars, the hoist squeals, everything aboard makes noise. You can’t use earplugs to block the sound because you need to be aware of what’s happening around you. Over time, the unrelenting noise of the boat can have a marked effect on your hearing.
Some hearing loss, particularly of higher sounds, is a natural result of growing older. Lobstermen, however, may suffer a significant loss of hearing far earlier than most people.
Hearing loss isn’t just the annoyance of constantly saying “What?” during conversations. Recent research indicates that unaddressed hearing loss is one factor in the future development of dementia.
We go to our yearly wellness check-up where our blood pressure and other markers of health are evaluated. We visit the optometrist to get our eyes checked regularly. We head to the dermatologist to get screened for skin cancer. But how often do you get your hearing checked?
Hearing impairment is the third most common chronic condition experienced by older adults, but only 20% have had a hearing test in the past five years, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. More than half of those older than 18 report having hearing problems, but only 11% have sought treatment.
That’s not good.
According to research published in The Lancet last December, hearing impairment is strongly associated with future dementia. The research indicated that that 8% of dementia cases could be prevented with professional hearing loss management. In addition, people with hearing loss who use hearing aids have a 19% lower risk of cognitive decline and a 17% lower risk of dementia compared to people with untreated hearing loss.
Another recent study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that study participants with moderate or severe hearing loss had a 61% higher rate of dementia than participants with normal hearing. Participants with mild to severe hearing loss who used hearing aids had a 32% lower prevalence of dementia over time.
Still unclear is how hearing loss affects the brain’s thinking and memory functions. Some researchers suggest that as hearing loss continues, the brain is starved for input. Sections of the brain begin to decay from lack of use. A study released last year indicated that the particular areas of the brain affected by hearing loss are associated with attention and executive function in the frontal cortex.
Whatever the relationship, losing one’s hearing definitely has a negative effect not only on your brain but on your quality of life.
Enter hearing aids.
Research shows that using hearing aids can positively affect brain health. But most people who need hearing aids don’t get them, in part they think it shows they are old, or they are put off by the expense.
A federal law passed in 2019, however, requires most insurance companies to cover the costs of hearing aids, including Affordable Care Act policies. Up to $3,000 of the cost of hearing aids is covered, and that coverage is available every 36 months (click here for details).
In 2022 the FDA approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids. Now you can buy a hearing aid directly, without visiting an audiologist. These devices are intended to help adults over 18 with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. If everyday speech or other sounds seem muffled, if you have a hard time hearing when you are in a group or noisy area, or you need to keep the TV turned up much louder than other people do, you probably have mild to moderate hearing loss.
So don’t dilly-dally. If you have been working on a lobster boat for years, you likely have hearing loss. It doesn’t have to go untreated. Make an appointment with an audiologist to learn what degree of loss you have experienced and don’t hesitate to get a hearing aid. It will keep your brain healthier later in life.
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