Hearing loss has been linked to dementia,1 which is concerning for many. However, results from a recent study about the effects of a Brain Fitness Program on participants with a wide range of hearing abilities may provide some hope.
In the study, participants were randomly assigned to one of two training groups, the Posit Science’s Brain Fitness group or the control group. The Brain Fitness participants were instructed to use the program on their personal computers for one hour each day, five days a week, for a total of eight weeks. The training covered six modules that studied the link between memory and perception in different situations, focusing primarily on the consonant-vowel transition, a notoriously vulnerable area of speech.
The Brain Fitness group showed improvements in neural timing, short-term memory and processing speed, particularly in noisy situations. In contrast, the control group displayed no change in hearing or cognitive functioning. Those in the Brain Fitness group were enthusiastic over their experience and reported noticeable improvements in both their ability to hear and to focus on conversations.
Following conversations in noisy environments is an ongoing challenge for people with hearing loss for several reasons, including deficits in central auditory processing and cognitive function. Participating in brain exercises is one way for these patients to help improve their listening experience.
Daily brain exercises can help fend off or delay Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Just 15 minutes of rigorous brain exercise a day is enough to keep the brain active.
Care for your cognitive health by caring for your hearing health. Call Indiana Hearing Specialists today at (765) 588-1231 to see how our trusted hearing health care providers can help you. We offer thorough audiological testing and counseling for total patient satisfaction.
1 John Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The hidden risks of hearing loss. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss