The Connection Between Hearing and Cognition
It?s clear that hearing loss isn?t just about your ears. In fact, 60% of hearing is what your brain does with the sounds your ears collect.? Cognitive testing can help us detect hearing loss – and testing for hearing loss can help us uncover issues of cognitive decline. By detecting these problems early, you have the chance to find treatment options that can improve and prolong your quality of life.
Cognivue helps us contribute to an ecosystem of care that includes your other healthcare providers. Everyone who undergoes cognitive testing at our clinic receives a report of the results that they may give to their other healthcare providers.
Innovation is an important part of our work at The Hill Hear Better Clinic. Cognivue testing is our latest step forward in helping our patients achieve a better quality of life.
Hearing Loss and Cognitive Decline
But what does cognitive testing have to do with hearing health? Here?s why we’ve equipped our audiology clinic with state-of-the-art cognitive testing equipment:?
- Hearing loss can change the way your brain works. When you experience reduced hearing abilities, the parts of your brain responsible for hearing and comprehension aren?t being used as heavily and begin to lose functionality over time. Speaking and understanding speech may become more difficult.?
- Similarly, hearing loss can affect your memory. If you have trouble hearing what others are saying, your brain is doing more work to understand their speech. But that means less energy is available to remember what is said.?
- For these reasons, hearing loss is considered a risk factor for dementia. Managing hearing loss through treatment has been shown to help delay or slow cognitive decline and dementia.?
What is Cognivue?
At The Hill Hear Better Clinic, we strive to be up-to-date with the latest technology, research, and treatment practices. That?s why we?ve chosen to equip our office with easy-to-use cognitive testing through Cognivue.?
Taking a Cognivue test is easy and takes just 5 minutes! Using simple testing methods, it evaluates the memory, visuospatial, and executive functions of your brain. It also measures reaction time and speed processing. During the course of your appointment, you have the option to take a private, self-administered test at the Cognivue station in a private space. The test can be taken as part of your first appointment, at each annual evaluation, or anytime you have concerns about your cognitive health.?
