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Hearing Loss & Your Brain

Untreated hearing loss has far-reaching and very negative consequences for the brain.  A study done by Campbell & Sharma (2013, 2014) showed on MRI imaging the differences between a healthy brain with normal hearing abilities and an unhealthy brain with hearing loss.  


Brain with Normal Hearing

This is how a healthy brain responds when listening to sound...

...red areas indicate the brain's activation from sound picked up by the ears.

MRI normal hearing brain.png

 Brain with Hearing Loss

MRI hearing loss brain.png

Notice the significantly reduced red areas in the brain...

...reduced areas of activation are the result of poor sound reception from the ears.


...and when the brain is activated by the visual system:

MRI brain visual stimulation normal hearing.png

A healthy brain divides areas of function for the different senses: vision, hearing, smelling, taste, and touch.  Here, the visual (eyesight) center is shown activated in red.  

MRI brain visual stimulation hearing loss.png

But in an unhealthy brain, areas are taken over when they are not used properly.  Here, the visual system has taken over the auditory (hearing) system.

But there is good news!  A study done by Glick & Sharma (2020) demonstrated that the brain has amazing plasticity.  Even after suffering structural changes caused by untreated hearing loss, in as little as 6 months post-hearing loss treatment the brain begins to reverse the damage.


Structural Changes In the Brain Seen on MRI Studies:

MRI brain before hearing loss treatment.png

The brain before hearing loss treatment demonstrates significant cortical reorganization...

And in as little as 6 months post-hearing loss treatment, the brain demonstrates an amazing reversal of cortical reorganization! 

MRI brain 6 months after hearing loss treatment.png


Brain Benefits of Hearing Loss Treatment

When hearing loss is properly treated, and the auditory (hearing) centers of the brain begin receiving stimulation again, the brain has reduced cognitive overload, which reduces the risk of cognitive decline and early dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Brain changes with treatment Desjardin 2016.png


A study by Desjardin (2016) showed an increase in Selective Attention, Memory Recall, and Processing Speed in patients who were treated for hearing loss compared to patients who were not treated.


Buyer Beware!  Dangers of Under-Treated and Improperly-Treated Hearing Loss

But sadly, just getting fitted with a hearing aid doesn't cause the brain to get better.  A new soon-to-be published study has taken a close look at hearing aid wearers from the community.  The appropriateness of the prescriptive fit for each patient was measured using scientific Real Ear probe microphone measurements. 

 

The researchers discovered that the majority of the patients in the study were NOT hearing at their true prescription!  Real Ear probe microphone measurements showed most patients were not receiving enough of the sound stimulation that they needed in order to hear and communicate their best. 

 

As a result, MRI brain imaging on these patients showed a lack of cortical restructuring - just like that seen in patients who still had untreated hearing loss.  

Brain MRI undertreated hearing loss.png

The Takeaway Messages?

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  • Over-the-Counter hearing aids and even prescription hearing aids will not necessarily decrease cognitive overloading.  This means that the brain will still reorganize and potentially lead to cognitive decline.

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  • Every patient should be seen by an audiologist who follows Best Practice Protocols and utilizes scientific Real Ear probe microphone measurements.

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At Audiology Center of Maine, our Doctors perform scientific Real Ear probe microphone measurements on every patient.  Contact us at (207) 664-2123  to learn how we can help change your life.

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