Page 36 - waterfall Issue 12 2021

Waterfall News

AduLTs And hEARing Every person deserves to hear the rain, hear laughter, hear life . . .
Loss
It is a common view that most people
associate hearing loss with old age.
Significant degeneration in hearing is
related to measurable cognitive decline
in older people. Current global research
suggests that hearing impairment may
increase listening effort, resulting in
fewer cognitive resources available
for other mental functions. Hearing is
cognitively taxing. One must selectively
attend to and sustain attention on
the sounds of interest, avoid being
distracted by irrelevant sounds, keep
updating information and make links
to prior knowledge in one’s memory.
Hearing-impaired individuals are
found to use much more brainpower
decoding words being said rather
than processing their meaning.
This increased mental load, lack of
adequate stimulation, and reorganised
brain functionality result in accelerated
cognitive decline, negatively impacting
memory, learning, concentration and
decision-making skills. This unnatural
way of processing sound is seen to
speed up the natural process of ageing.

Consequently, these brain challenges
become life problems. Inadequate
treatment of hearing impairment with
limited access to appropriate sounds
indirectly impacts cognition. It can
lead to loneliness, social isolation and
depression or reduced self-efficacy.
These, in turn, may lead to further
reduced cognitive performance
PHOTO BY: SIMI ILuYOMADE, uNSPLASH
and an increased risk of depression,
anxiety and dementia. By identifying technology. The technology may be Audiologists are awesome! We
and managing hearing loss, we can in the form of hearing aids, cochlear don’t just test hearing; we don’t
both stabilise and improve the rate implants and other assistive devices. just sell devices. We walk a path
of cognitive decline. Research has There is also the provision of sign on a journey with you, a journey
also shown that wearing hearing language to facilitate and maintain of identification, education and
aids leads to a lower risk of suffering optimal communicative ability. success. We assist with changing
from fall-related injuries than being the course of cognitive decline
left undiagnosed and unaided. Hearing aids are very advanced and and depression. We help with
come with a wide range of accessories preventing social isolation and
Thus, it becomes clear that adequate that help people communicate better. instead ensure social participation.
and convenient access to hearing The technology can be seamlessly
healthcare must be prioritised for both integrated into one’s everyday Although hearing is not a primary
the paediatric population and adults. life. There are additional listening health concern, if left untreated,
programmes for different listening it will negatively impact most
Today, there is virtually no individual environments, and Bluetooth future health outcomes for all
with hearing loss who cannot connectivity that enables streaming ages. Audiologists assist with
benefit from the use of appropriate of phone calls and music. improving quality of life.

34 Waterfall Issue 12 2021