Among the risks of untreated hearing loss includes that fact that you are more vulnerable to financial scams. This was uncovered by a research team at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Below we review more about the study and why the connection.
About the Study
For the 2020 study, researchers surveyed a group of 37 adults from Los Angeles who were all over the age of 50. All participants were cognitively healthy and highly educated. They were split into two groups based on whether they had been financially exploited: 24 had been and 13 had not been.
The survey asked about three types of frailty: physical, including poor hearing or vision; psychological, including feeling down, nervous or anxious; and social, including whether the participant lived alone.
The researchers found that those who had been financially exploited reported significantly poorer hearing and marginally poorer vision.
Why the Connection
According to Professor Duke Han of the Keck School of Medicine, scammers “put a stress on being able to see and hear things accurately.” If you have hearing loss, you’re more likely to miss critical details during these interactions.
In addition, hearing loss is associated with cognitive decline. In fact, research by Johns Hopkins found that, “Compared with volunteers with normal hearing, those with mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss had twofold, threefold, and fivefold, respectively, the risk of developing dementia over time.”
Experiencing cognitive decline also puts you at greater risk of being financially exploited. Signs you’re experiencing cognitive decline include having trouble remembering, learning, concentrating or making decisions.
The Good News
“We want older adults to enjoy the wealth that they’ve accumulated over their life. We want older adults to enjoy the fruits of their labor — and not be taken advantage of,” explained Professor Han.
Hearing loss is a very treatable condition. Wearing hearing aids can help improve your listening skills at Lowcountry Senior Center, communication and the function of your brain. It can also help you avoid a financial scam.
For more information about the types of hearing loss or to schedule an appointment, call Charleston ENT & Allergy today.