Can Hearing Aids Help Reduce Dementia Risk?

Aarti Raicha • May 24, 2025

It starts subtly. You’re in a crowded café, and you miss the punchline of a joke. You smile anyway, pretending you heard it. At dinner, you ask someone to repeat themselves for the third time. Even though you turn the TV volume as high as it goes, you notice it still sounds muffled, almost like you're wearing headphones. You tell yourself it’s nothing serious—just a bit of background noise, maybe some tired ears. But in the back of your mind, there’s a whisper: “What if it’s more?”

If you’re starting to notice these signs, you’re not alone. Hearing loss affects millions of people, especially as we get older. But what many people don’t realise is how closely hearing is tied to brain health. Researchers are now uncovering a powerful link between untreated hearing loss and dementia. The question is—can using hearing aids make a difference? The simple answer is yes. Let's examine how and why.


The Link Between Hearing and the Brain


Although your brain isn't responsible for hearing, it processes, remembers and understands all sounds the ear sends. But when the ear starts struggling with its duty and sends scrambled signals, it makes your brain work harder to interpret these sounds. Have you ever tried having a conversation at a party with the music blaring and, to top it off, the other person is whispering? That frustration you feel, yes, that's what your brain feels when you have untreated hearing loss.


Over time, this extra effort piles up (because your brain is running extra shifts it isn't built for). The longer this goes on, the harder it is to remember things and concentrate, which in turn affects your social connections.. You might find yourself withdrawing from conversations, avoiding social situations, and feeling more isolated. It’s not just a feeling—studies have shown that social isolation, often caused by hearing loss, is a major risk factor for dementia.


However, there’s another reason hearing matters so much: when the brain doesn’t get regular stimulation from sound, it begins to change. Areas that once processed sound start to shrink. Connections weaken. Memory suffers. This process is slow, but it’s real—and it’s one reason why hearing loss is now considered the number one modifiable risk factor for dementia.



So, Where Do Hearing Aids Come In?



If hearing loss increases your risk of dementia, then treating it might reduce that risk. That’s exactly what researchers have been looking into—and the findings are hopeful.

A major study published in 2023 found that people at risk of dementia who wore hearing aids had slower cognitive decline than those who didn’t. Other studies suggest that people who use hearing aids stay more socially engaged and mentally active, two important ways to protect the brain as we age.


When you wear hearing aids, you’re not just making sounds louder—you’re giving your brain the information it needs to stay sharp. Conversations become easier. You start picking up on little sounds again—the birds outside, the kettle boiling, the soft rustle of leaves. These sounds keep your brain active. They help you stay present.


And when you feel more confident hearing and engaging with others, you’re more likely to take part in life—to laugh, listen, share stories, and keep your mind busy. These small everyday moments are what protect memory and slow decline.



Early Action Makes the Biggest Difference


The key is not to wait.


Many people put off getting hearing aids, sometimes for years. Maybe it’s the stigma. Maybe it’s denial. But the longer hearing loss goes untreated, the harder it becomes for your brain to adjust. Those pathways that once processed sound grow quiet, and it takes more effort to wake them up again.


Getting help early means your brain doesn’t lose those connections. It means adapting more easily to hearing aids. And it means giving yourself the best chance to stay sharp, social, and independent.


You don’t need to wait until your hearing is “bad enough.” If you’ve noticed changes—struggling to follow conversations, avoiding noisy environments, feeling tired from listening—then it’s time to get a hearing test. It’s quick. It’s painless. And it could make more of a difference than you think.


You’re Not Alone—And You Don’t Have to Guess


At Ealing Hearing, we’ve seen how powerful hearing support can be. We’ve watched people go from withdrawn to engaged, from struggling to smiling. We take the time to understand your hearing, your lifestyle, and your goals. And if hearing aids are the right step for you, we’ll help you find a natural and empowering solution.


Dementia Action Week is a reminder that brain health matters at every stage of life. This year, the action you take could be as simple as booking a hearing check. Because sometimes, the first step to protecting your memory isn’t a crossword or a brain-training app—it’s listening.


Listening to the sounds around you. Listening to your loved ones. Listening to your own needs.




Book Your Hearing Test Today


If you’re ready to take control of your hearing health—and support your brain along the way—we’re here to help. Contact us at Ealing Hearing to book your hearing test or speak with one of our audiologists.

Better hearing isn’t just about sound; it’s about staying connected to others, to life, and to yourself.

Wax in Ears Symptoms: How They Present and Why They’re Often Misread

By Aarti Raicha • December 29, 2025
For many adults, wax-related ear problems show up quietly. Speech may start to sound less clear, one ear may feel slightly fuller than the other, or listening may feel more tiring than usual, without any obvious pain to point to the ear as the cause. When symptoms develop this way, wax is rarely what people think of first. Changes in hearing or comfort are more often blamed on tiredness, sinus pressure, or simply getting older, and the ear canal is not always considered until the problem has been there for a while. Changes in Hearing Clarity Hearing often feels different before it feels reduced. Voices can start to sound flatter or harder to pick out, especially in places with background noise, even when nothing feels obviously quieter. It also tends to vary. Some days, one ear feels more affected than the other, or things seem clearer at one point in the day and less so later on, which makes it easy to assume the problem is temporary rather than ear-related. Because these changes build gradually, many people adapt without realising how much extra effort listening has begun to require. A Feeling of Fullness or Pressure Another change people commonly notice is a sense of fullness in the ear. This is often described as pressure or blockage, similar to the feeling some experience after swimming or during changes in air pressure. The sensation can become more noticeable when chewing, yawning, or lying on one side, and it may shift slightly depending on how the wax sits within the ear canal. As it is rarely painful, it is easy to tolerate for longer than expected. Over time, this constant awareness of the ear can become distracting, even if it never develops into sharp discomfort. Ringing or Internal Sounds

How to Unblock Wax in Ears: What Actually Helps and What Often Makes It Worse

By Aarti Raicha • December 20, 2025
Blocked ears are rarely dramatic at first, and for many adults the sensation builds gradually, with a feeling of fullness, mild muffling, or pressure that comes and goes, often becoming more noticeable in quiet rooms or during conversations where speech suddenly feels less clear than it used to. When this happens, the instinct is to “unblock” the ear as quickly as possible. People search for ways to clear wax, assuming it is a simple obstruction that needs to be removed. In practice, earwax blockage is more complex than it appears, and many attempts to unblock it at home end up making the problem harder to resolve. Why Ear Wax Builds Up in Adults Earwax is a normal and necessary part of ear health. It protects the ear canal, traps dust and debris, and helps prevent infection. In most people, wax gradually moves out of the ear on its own as the jaw moves during talking and chewing. In adults, however, this process does not always work as smoothly. Wax can become drier with age, ear canals can narrow slightly, and the natural movement that helps wax migrate outward may slow. Hearing aid use, earbud use, and repeated attempts to clean the ears can also interfere with this self-cleaning process. Over time, wax that would normally exit the ear can compact deeper inside the canal, leading to blockage. Misunderstanding Blocked Ears Many people think of blocked ears as similar to a blocked nose, something that can be cleared quickly with the right technique. This comparison is misleading. Ear wax does not dissolve easily, and once it has compacted, it often behaves more like a plug than a soft build-up. Attempts to flush it out, soften it too aggressively, or remove it manually can push it further in rather than clearing it. This is why people often report that their ears feel worse after trying to unblock them themselves, even though they intended to fix the problem. Common Home Methods

What's the Safest Way to Remove Hard Ear Wax?

By Aarti Raicha • November 28, 2025
People, you probably just see earwax as something to remove. But its role is crucial: it’s your ear’s natural defence system against foreign particles and bacteria. The problem only happens when this protective barrier eventually dries up and turns into a blockage. Understanding Hardened Earwax Hardened earwax develops when it dries up and becomes firmly lodged, or impacted, inside the ear canal. This impaction isn't just a physical blockage; it can trigger a range of symptoms that severely impact your well-being: A persistent feeling of blocked ears or fullness Tinnitus (a distracting ringing or buzzing) Occasional dizziness or balance issues Noticeable reduction in hearing or muffled hearing . The hardening is often due to factors outside your control, such as age, genetic predisposition, the unique anatomy of your ear canals, or certain past medical events. Gentle Ways to Soften Wax at Home (Exercise Caution) Before seeking professional intervention, you may try softening the wax yourself. However, we must stress that safety and caution are paramount. 1. Medical-Grade Olive Oil Drops Gently warm some medical-grade olive oil (it should feel lukewarm, never hot) and place a few drops in the affected ear. Leave the oil to work for 10–15 minutes, then tilt your head to drain the excess. Repeating this 3–4 times daily for several days can significantly soften the blockage. 2. Over-the-Counter Drops Ask your local chemist for non-prescription drops designed to help break down earwax. If you prefer a ready-made solution, the pharmacist can guide you. The Absolute Rule of Ear Care This is vital: Never insert objects like cotton swabs, hairpins, or rolled-up tissue into your ear canal. These objects do not remove wax; they inevitably push the wax deeper against the eardrum, worsening the impaction and risking serious injury to the delicate inner ear structures. The Experts' Choice: Professional Ear Wax Removal in Ealing When home remedies prove insufficient, or if you are experiencing worrisome symptoms like pain, persistent ringing, or sudden hearing loss, consulting an expert is the safest course of action. Our professional services guarantee safe, accurate, and hygienic removal.