Hearing loss and dementia

Hearing loss is one of the most common health conditions associated with ageing. In Australia alone, hearing loss is expected to affect 1 in 5 Australians by 2060¹ making it a significant public health issue.

As people get older, hearing changes become a common part of life. Australian Government health information suggests that around half of people aged 60 to 70 experience hearing loss, increasing to approximately 70% of those aged 70 and over and 80% of those aged 80 and over.²  

Despite its prevalence, many people delay seeking help because hearing changes often occur gradually and can be easy to dismiss as a normal part of getting older.

What’s becoming increasingly clear is that hearing health is about much more than just communication. Research has identified hearing loss as an important modifiable risk factor linked to dementia, placing it alongside other lifestyle and health factors that individuals can act on to support long-term cognitive wellbeing. 

Hearing Australia’s Principal Audiologist Karen Hirschausen explains, “Research shows that unaddressed hearing loss is associated with a 32% higher risk of developing dementia.³ This relationship is thought to be driven by increased cognitive load, reduced auditory stimulation, and progressive social withdrawal.” 

It is important to understand that hearing loss doesn’t directly cause dementia. Rather, researchers have identified a strong association between the two conditions, meaning that untreated hearing loss may contribute to circumstances that increase dementia risk over time.  

Researchers continue to investigate why this relationship exists. One explanation is that when hearing becomes more difficult, the brain must work harder to process sounds and understand speech. This increased listening effort may leave fewer resources available for other cognitive functions like memory and attention. 

Another theory focuses on social engagement. People who struggle to hear often find conversations more challenging, which can lead to loneliness, depression, and social isolation. These are all linked to a higher risk of dementia.⁴

This research is significant because hearing loss is one of the risk factors people can do something about. Unlike factors such as ageing or family history, hearing health can be assessed and monitored. 

In fact, the World Health Organisation’s updated guidelines suggest that up to 45% of dementia risk may be potentially preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors,⁵ highlighting the importance of taking proactive steps where possible. 

It’s easy for people to adapt to the changes without realising the impact on their daily lives. Many continue to hear sounds around them but find it increasingly difficult to follow conversations, especially when background noise is present.  

Turning up the television, asking for repetition, avoiding busy venues, or paying closer attention to facial expressions during conversations can all be indicators that hearing may benefit from further attention. 

Although these hearing changes may appear minor, struggling to hear shouldn’t simply be accepted as something you have to live with. 

Addressing changes to hearing through early action becomes important, as it can help support communication, relationships and quality of life. 

A free 15-minute adult hearing check is straightforward and can provide valuable information about hearing health. It can identify hearing changes that may otherwise go unnoticed. 

As awareness of the hearing loss-dementia connection continues to grow, regular hearing checks are increasingly being recognised as a small action that may have a meaningful impact. 

How Hearing Australia can help 

For almost 80 years, Hearing Australia has been helping Australians hear better and reconnect with the people and moments that matter most.  

Hearing Australia supports people with complex hearing needs, as well as those who simply want to understand whether their hearing has changed, through hearing assessments and free 15-minute adult hearing checks. 

They’ve also been voted Australia's most trusted hearing services provider six years in a row by Reader's Digest’s readers. 

References: 

1. Hearing Care Industry Association (2017), ‘The Social And Economic Cost Of Hearing Loss In Australia’, accessed on 06/10/26 @ hcia.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Social-and-Economic-Cost-of-Hearing-Health-in-Australia_June-2017-3.pdf 
2. Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, ‘About ear health’, accessed on 06/10/26 @ health.gov.au/topics/ear-health/about 
3. Readman, M. R. et al. (2025) 'Hearing loss as a risk factor for dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis from a global perspective', Aging & Mental Health, 29(10), pp. 1831-1844. doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2025.2515180 (accessed on 21/10/25)   
4. Alzheimers Research UK, ‘Hearing loss and dementia risk explained’, accessed on 06/10/26 @ alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/dementia-risk/hearing-loss-and-dementia-risk 
5. World Health Organisation, ‘Up To 45% Of Dementia Risk Could Be Prevented Or Delayed’, accessed on 06 /10/26 @ who.int/news/item/15-07-2026-new-who-guidelines--up-to-45--of-dementia-risk-could-be-prevented-or-delayed