|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Angella Wolfe, audiologist and owner of Wolfe Hearing, looks at the link between hearing and brain health.
As we get older, staying healthy isn’t just about keeping our bodies active – our brains need exercise too. Regular physical activity and keeping our minds engaged help us stay sharp, capable, and able to enjoy life. Looking after our hearing is a big part of this because when we hear well, our brain stays better stimulated.
How hearing loss affects the brain
When most people think of hearing, they think of the ears — but it’s your brain that truly makes sense of sound.
Brain scans show that when hearing loss is left untreated, the brain can start to rewire itself in unhelpful ways. For example, parts of the brain that usually process sight may start working harder to interpret speech, because of our greater reliance on lipreading or subtitles rather than actual sounds. Over time, the brain’s natural filters for background noise can weaken, making it harder to focus. Many people with hearing loss also experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears), which is often linked to these changes in the brain.
Training the brain through better hearing
The good news is that the brain can adapt back. It takes time, but with the right support, the brain can relearn how to process sound, strengthen the correct pathways, and filter out what’s not important. Hearing aids don’t just make things louder; they also help retrain your brain to recognise sounds and make sense of them.
Research shows that hearing aid use can even boost what’s called “fluid intelligence”, skills like quick thinking, memory, and problem solving that tend to decline naturally as we age. Our crystallised intelligence, the knowledge and wisdom we’ve built up over time, stays steady, but keeping our hearing strong helps us hold on to those sharper processing skills.
Untreated hearing loss isn’t proven to directly cause dementia, but studies show it can speed up age-related mental decline. People with significant hearing problems often withdraw from conversations and social activities because it takes so much effort to follow along. This can lead to isolation, lower confidence, and less mental stimulation.
Why early help matters
If you or your loved ones are starting to notice hearing difficulties, it’s worth getting help sooner rather than later. Studies indicate that early use of hearing aids can prevent the brain from making those unhelpful changes and keep us more connected with the world. Modern hearing aids are comfortable, discreet, and come with features like Bluetooth streaming for phone calls, music, and podcasts — so they can improve both hearing and lifestyle.
Making the right choice
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution with hearing aids. It’s important to see an audiologist who looks at your hearing, your brain health, your daily activities, and your personal preferences before recommending a device. Independent audiologists, like Wolfe Hearing in Pukekohe and Drury, can choose from all brands and models to find what works best for you.
Today’s hearing aids are the result of years of research. They contain tiny computer chips with smart technology that helps process sound, reduce background noise, and make listening easier. Some hearing aids even contain motion sensors and artificial intelligence to help them understand how to process and amplify what you are listening to. Hearing aids with a “brain hearing” approach have been designed to restore sounds in the most natural way possible to allow the brain to maintain its processing skills and are proving very successful for both new and experienced hearing aid wearers.
Trusted hearing care, close to home
At Wolfe Hearing, we want to make sure everyone can access the life-changing benefits of improved hearing. We are an independent hearing health practice serving the Auckland and Waikato regions for 20 years. With a strong commitment to personalised, people-first care, our team focuses on building lasting relationships. We take the time to understand your unique hearing needs, allowing us to provide honest, tailored solutions that truly enhance quality of life. We specialise in fitting the latest hearing aids, and with the technology available today, we can achieve incredible results.
As well as the latest hearing technology, Wolfe Hearing also offers comprehensive hearing assessments, ear cleaning and wax removal, and tinnitus assessment and management services.
If you’re curious about your hearing health and the technology available, why not visit Wolfe Hearing? Our friendly clinicians can guide you through your hearing test and provide personalised advice about your options.
To book an appointment with us, call 0800 300 303 or visit wolfehearing.co.nz/book-online.
