The link between hearing loss and the risk of dementia is well documented. People who lose their hearing are more likely to develop dementia than those who retain their hearing. (Source: 18 year study by Johns Hopkins and National Institute on Aging Research, USA) What is dementia? Dementia is an umbrella term for a range of progressive conditions that affect the brain. Symptoms include a decline in memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking skills that affect a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. This term is often interchanged with Alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common cause of dementia [according to the Alzheimer’s Society]. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine the exact causes of dementia and there is no current cure. Dementia can affect a person at any age but it is more commonly…

