A major study followed 2,800 older adults for 7 years — and found hearing aids cut dementia risk by a third. Rally breaks down what that means, why untreated hearing loss quietly strains the brain, and what your real options are (including affordable, prescription-free choices). Simple, actionable — you’ll love getting an earful of this one!
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
RALLY:
Hey, Beautiful People. Welcome back to the Silver Beast Podcast. I’m Rally Preston. Seventy-one years old.
And if I did the math right, that means my ears are 71 years old too. Both of them. Point is, I probably don’t hear as well as I used to.
It’s too bad you can’t adjust your ears like those old rabbit ears on your TV. You remember those? Twisting them all which way, wrap some tinfoil around them. Or worse, when your parents made you hold the stupid antenna? I was the tallest kid, or maybe just the dumbest – but I actually did it. That was my job sometimes. Stand up straighter, move to your left, no go right, closer to the window. Uh…is that thunder I hear? There, stop there – don’t move! I look over to see Andy Griffith in a black-and-white snowstorm on the tube. That was state-of-the-art TV reception back in the ’60s, folks. Good old rabbit ears.
So okay, I wandered off the path there a little bit. Okay, back to my ears, well your ears, maybe we don’t hear so well today. Okay.
Well look, we’re gonna try and fix that. Your hearing. No aluminum foil needed. And by the way, how about better hearing and a lower risk of dementia? This episode will be a two-fer. Can’t beat that.
So listen to this. Researchers tracked around twenty-eight hundred older adults. Kept tabs on them for seven years. And this was out of Melbourne, Australia, by the way. And all of them, all twenty-eight hundred, had some hearing loss. And then next, some of the participants got hearing aids. Others of them didn’t.
So here’s what this study found. Those with hearing loss to start with – and they got hearing aids. Thirty-three percent of them had a lower risk of dementia. Over that seven-year period. Thirty-three percent less risk of dementia with hearing aids.
So this study has a pretty interesting twist. Their memory test scores didn’t really improve over time. But their actual dementia diagnoses still went way down – about, you know, a third less. So something’s up with these hearing aids. But the researchers weren’t exactly sure what.
But of course, they had some theories.
They think that when you can’t hear well, your brain has to work overtime. It’s straining, has to fill in the gaps, guessing at words all the time. And that’s exhausting. So they think that all that extra work takes energy from other things your brain should be doing. Like remembering where you put your car keys, like me. Or creating new memories, just in everyday life.
And here’s the other part of this. When conversations get harder because you can’t hear as well, then here’s what happens.
You start skipping those conversations. You disengage when you can’t hear as well. It’s awkward, right? So, maybe family dinners get quieter. Maybe phone calls get shorter. You nod along instead of asking somebody to repeat themselves for the umpteenth time, right?
Now, I know I’ve done that. I just tell myself, they’re just mumbling, I can’t understand them. If they’d just enunciate better, maybe I could make out their gibberish. So yeah, I just nod and smile. “Uh-huh, sure, wow, really?” And I have no idea what they’re saying. Maybe it’s them, but, maybe it is me, and my hearing.
So when you can’t hear that well, you just pull back, you know? Nod along, pretend you’re listening.
So according to the researchers here, their theory anyway, staying connected, engaged, in conversation, is good brain food. And it’s not passive, like sitting there watching a game show. So that kind of isolation, especially social isolation, is a known risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia. So hearing loss is, in its own quiet way, is probably doing some damage upstairs. And that’s not good news – but you know, it makes sense.
Now look, this study is not proof hearing aids stop dementia. But a seven-year study, with real people, showing that kind of drop? And again, that was a 33 percent less risk of dementia for people who got hearing aids in this study. That should make your ears perk up – whatever that means.
So the point of this episode is real simple: first, get your hearing tested. Just do it. Don’t be shy about it.
Especially with the possibility of developing dementia in the picture here. Hearing aids might – now not guaranteed, but they might – lower your risk of dementia.
And look, we all want to stay engaged in life, right? And if your hearing’s a bit off, well, why not give your ears a little high-tech help here.
Now yeah, I already know, one of the big objections to getting hearing aids. It’s the cost, right?
I mean, hearing aids are not cheap. Traditional ones from an audiologist can run you two, three, even seven thousand dollars a pair. And here’s the annoying part. Original Medicare, the, you know, regular kind, doesn’t cover them, the best I can tell. Not the hearing aids or the fitting exam.
But, you know, you’ve got other options here for hearing aids.
First, if you’ve got a Medicare Advantage plan, well, check it. Most offer some kind of hearing benefit. An allowance, a discount maybe, sometimes a certain set amount toward a pair. It varies by plan, so it’s worth an actual phone call to find out.
Second option, and this one’s newer: over-the-counter hearing aids. This was just back in 2022 when the FDA opened this up. For mild to moderate hearing loss, you can now buy hearing aids without a prescription; you don’t even need an exam. And it looks like prices start around 200 bucks. Some run higher of course. And yeah, that’s not pocket change still, but a whole better than dropping seven grand, right?
And these aren’t your grandpa’s monster hearing aids. These days they’re much smaller. And they use bluetooth connection. And some connect right to your phone. And it’s just super simple.
Now third option to hook you up here, is to check your local sources. Lions Clubs, maybe your local agency on aging, some local nonprofits offer help or used hearing aids. Your audiologist’s office should know what’s out there. Doesn’t hurt to ask around; maybe save a few bucks.
Now look, I know some of you have been putting this off. Getting checked. Maybe out of stubbornness – like me. Or maybe it’s the price tag. Or maybe it’s just you don’t love the idea of hearing aids, period. And yeah, I get that.
But here’s the thing. Nobody looks at reading glasses these days and thinks less of somebody, right? Hearing aids basically the same deal. Just another helper tool, like your glasses.
So yeah, you got to look at what you’re missing out on here. Conversations with your grandkids – which sometimes does happen when they look up from their smartphone. Or you’re missing out on your favorite music. Or the TV has to be cranked up to a glass-shattering level. There’s a lot here, in your daily life, a teensy-weensy set of hearing aids could easily fix.
And don’t forget about this Melbourne study. People with hearing aids had a lower risk of dementia. About a third less. And that can’t just be a coincidence.
Alright, let’s get to your Silver Beast Action Steps to improve your hearing.
First. If you haven’t had a hearing test in a while, well get one. It’s simple, and might be free through your Medicare Part B benefit once a year.
Second. If you already own hearing aids, well wear them. The study showed consistent use mattered. So yeah, keep those charged up and in your ears.
Third. If cost has been the holdup, look into over-the-counter options. Starting around $200, that’s way better than the $7,000. Just do your research.
And Fourth. Call your Medicare Advantage plan, if you’ve got one, and ask exactly what they cover for hearing. You might be surprised.
And Fifth. Talk to your doctor or an audiologist if you’re noticing signs of hearing loss. Like turning up the TV volume more. Not catching words in noisy rooms. Asking “what?” more than you used to. Those are the tell-tale signs.
Now I’m not a doctor or hearing specialist, so please check with the experts before making any decisions here, especially around costs and your coverage.
Alright, bottom line, Silver Beasties. This isn’t about giving in to getting older. It’s about staying present. Engaging in life. Being part of the conversation. And maybe protecting your brain while you’re at it.
Alright, this is Rally Preston. Hey, thanks so much for stopping by, and let’s get our ears working right and go be a beast. I’ll catch you next time on the Silver Beast Podcast. Take care!