A growing body of research shows that hearing loss is related to both cognitive decline and to the risk of dementia. What has been less clear is the nature of this relationship and whether audiological care might play any meaningful role in mitigating risks. This talk will explore insights from recent research in auditory neuroscience and auditory evoked responses that shed light on possible underlying mechanisms, with a focus on practical implications. The goals of the session are to clarify what we know based on the latest evidence, to discuss research in progress, and to inform recommendations for current clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify brain changes that occur with age-related hearing loss
- Describe evidence for ways that hearing loss could be related to cognitive decline and dementia
- Understand the possible roles of audiologists related to issues of cognitive decline and dementia
