OTC Hearing Aids May Ward Off Dementia--I Know They Changed My Life

I didn’t know what I had lost until I got it back

1923 film The Scarlett Letter—public domain

A pair of non-prescription, digital in-ear hearing aids made me younger and more beautiful. No, really — I felt old when my biggest contribution to conversation became, “I’m sorry, what?” And it isn’t attractive to carp, “Speak up, for the love of God.”

Follow along and see how my OTC hearing devices are life-altering, cognitively uplifting, and an epiphany at the same time.

Hearing aids, the quality of life, and dementia

Nih.gov cites a clinical trial by Dr. Frank Lin from Johns Hopkins University that compared the rate of cognitive decline over a three-year period between people who did and didn’t receive hearing aids. The group with hearing aids had an almost 50% reduction in the rate of cognitive decline.

“Hearing loss is very treatable in later life, which makes it an important public health target to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” Lin said.

His colleagues found that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Read that sentence again, please. Mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk. Mayo Clinic, Harvard Health, and a significant number of other health experts agree.

History of my ears (skip if you must)

I’ve been deaf for more than 50 years from a congenital condition called Otosclerosis, characterized by calcium deposits freezing the normal vibration of a tiny inner ear bone, the stapes. There are, of course, many causes of hearing loss. From The National Institutes of Health: About 15% of adults over 18 have impaired hearing, and at least half of us hear poorly after 75.

Early on, I could keep up with conversations if I watched people’s mouths move. But little by little, I couldn’t hear the wind, subtle variations in music, and a lot of other comforting sounds that add to the quality of life. So, I went on a quest for solutions that wouldn’t involve hearing aids. I didn’t want them. My mother, my grandmother, and my uncle wore those big, clunky ones with a battery pack to stick inside your shirt. Not for me.

At age 30, I had a surgical repair that lasted some years before the bone froze again. I experimented with American Sign Language. I tried and rejected a few hearing aids, one of which got stuck inside my ear canal and sent me to the Emergency Department.

First-hand, I understand why many of us have neglected the idea of improving our hearing. It’s a pain in the butt to find the right solution. There are coping strategies, but we’re vain. Gadgets can be fussy to use and maintain.

I kept seeing these new studies about hearing and cognitive problems. And, as I grow older, my hearing grows suckier. I’m not alone in that. Do you realize that struggling to hear and listen can be exhausting? I had to rethink.

My new ears and what I discovered

My aging friends and I made a pact early this year to revisit the hearing aid conversation. About a year ago, the FDA approved non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. In the past couple of months, these new aids have become widely available, very affordable, and technically more advanced.

My reasons for continuing to cope were becoming a little lame.

In reading news reports, I learned that older versions of non-prescription hearing devices only amplify sound. I had tried one of those and hated it.

All noise was louder, and human speech was still drowned out and unintelligible. Sitting in a crowded restaurant, at a concert, or even at a family party was awful. Cacophony of sound. Confusion. I was still reading lips because everything happened at the same intensity, and conversation was practically painful.

New technology OTC hearing aids are controllable and customizable. These true hearing aids are built to enhance speech, make background noise recede, and actually allow you to differentiate sounds and speech.

Some are Bluetooth-capable, and many are wireless. I found some with replaceable batteries and some that are quickly rechargeable. Manufacturers are continuously improving the technology and releasing new versions every month.

It’s awesome that some health insurance plans cover the entire cost, and some offer a partial subsidy — but the bottom line is that hearing aids are now more affordable and accessible to purchase. So I did just that.

Because my ears and my deafness are suitable for hearing aids, I have been able to reduce my risk of dementia and enhance my quality of life. I’m less tired and more engaged in social situations.

Period of adjustment

I started my quest by purchasing a simple, over-the-ear, battery-powered hearing aid from a major maker. My health insurance offered it with my over-the-counter pharmaceutical allowance. I wore that version for two weeks and was astonished at how my daily experiences changed. I decided to go all in and get the tiny in-ear version for both ears. It was a momentous decision.

It took time to get used to everything. Some people take up to four months to become completely comfortable with their hearing aids, but most adjust in two to three weeks.

For example, the sound of my own voice was loud and echoey at first. Over some years, I had developed a pattern of talking really loudly because I couldn’t hear myself. Now, I quieted down fast.

Sharp sounds like setting the table made me yelp and reach for my volume control. I figured out my floors creak — almost everywhere. I heard airplanes in the sky and birds in the trees. I turned my mobile phone volume from full to about 1/8th of its range. No more phone feedback.

It’s really nice to watch TV with the window open and not worry that my neighbors will toss pebbles at me to make me turn it down. It’s fun to tell my soft-spoken husband to stop yelling and delightful to catch every word my grandkids whisper.

Most of us know people affected by the epidemic of dementia, and we get how serious that condition is. With the simple step of enhancing my hearing, I am less likely to be impacted by cognitive issues.

We all recognize that our society is fraught with depression, isolation issues, and social divides. Improved hearing has a positive impact on all of those things. Instead of sitting quietly, nodding at what I can’t hear dinner companions say, I can participate effortlessly.

If I want to settle back into my cocoon of silence, I can switch the aids off or leave them in the charger. But with my aids, I can re-hear parts of music I have missed for half a century.

I’m all in. You might want to reconsider augmenting your hearing if it isn’t all it could be. Age isn’t the issue. We all wear glasses when needed, and many of us baby boomers have become comfortable with walking accessories or other assistance. Hearing aids don’t scream, “Old person!”

After a month of wearing my new accessories, my brain has re-recognized sounds and made new connections with my ears. I no longer notice my own voice or sharp, clangy sounds.

A number of my older friends also chose to address their hearing problems and are delighted with the change. We’ve put some worries to rest.

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There’s a lot to fret about in this world, and it’s wonderful to know that I can easily protect my cognitive functions while getting reacquainted with sounds I lost long ago. Last night, I heard a cricket chirp.

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