Can You See What I’m Saying? Vision Impairment and Dementia Prevention
As a result of some popular advertising in the hearing care field, some people are under the impression that there is a particular type of hearing device that is “the best” for everyone with hearing difficulty. Nothing could be further from the truth. That is why, at Hearing Center of Long Island, we select from the widest range of options to choose the best solution for each individual. Mrs. Amalia Dragovich shares her experience at Hearing Center of Long Island here. In her case, an option that many hearing care providers could not offer was the most appropriate choice to meet her needs and preferences. Thank you, Mrs. Dragovich, for allowing us to share your comments with our 2 • We’re listening to you. Recent scientific reports confirm that nearly 35 percent of all dementia cases are considered preventable. A 2017 report in the prestigious Lancet medical journal indicated that of all the modifiable risk factors for dementia, the one that has the greatest impact is hearing loss. In fact, physician and Duke University researcher Dr. Murali Doraiswamy, one of the world’s leading authorities on healthy brain aging and dementia, has reported, “The benefits of correcting hearing loss on cognition are twice as large as the benefits from any cognitive-enhancing drugs now on the market. It should be the first thing we focus on.” However, vision impairment has also been found to have significant — and preventable — effects on brain health and functioning. Vision impairment, like hearing impairment, can lead to more social isolation. Vision and hearing impairment are also associated with progressive neural degeneration, which may lead to significant cerebral atrophy. These are both factors that can contribute to dementia.
Recent studies reported in major scientific journals — including reports from the National Institutes of Health, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the American Optometric Association, and the American Journal of Epidemiology — have shown the links between vision loss and cognitive decline. For example, studies indicate that people with distance- vision problems are 2–3 times more likely to develop cognitive impairment (compared to those with normal vision) and that significant near-vision loss in older age also correlates with increased dementia risk. Some researchers have found that moderate to severe near- vision loss can double an individual’s chances of developing dementia. EARLY SIGNS OF VISION LOSS AND DEMENTIA — WHAT TO LOOK FOR It is often hard to separate the signs of vision loss from those of dementia — as the two can mimic each other. Having difficulty with any of the following may suggest a person is having problems with their vision, with cognitive function, or both:
■ Reading ■ Recognizing people ■ Coping with low light, bright light, or both ■ Finding things ■ Avoiding obstacles ■ Locating food on the plate ■ Seeing well even with glasses on MANAGING DEMENTIA AND VISION LOSS There are a number of strategies that can help the person and his or her family manage both vision loss and dementia, including the following: ■ Proper eye care (regular eye exams, maintaining up-to-date vision prescriptions, and assuring glasses are clean) ■ Adjusting living space, including improved — preferably automatic — lighting and removing clutter ■ Improving communication — for example, getting the person’s attention before speaking to them I have had more than one patient tell me they are convinced they hear better when they wear their eyeglasses. Of course, hearing and vision work together to help us communicate and enjoy life. Don’t neglect either of them.
What Our Patients Are Saying
readers. Thank you, also, for the privilege of providing your hearing care.
“I never thought loss of hearing would be something to affect my life, since there wasn’t any family history. Being a person who spent years in the beauty industry, my appearance was important to me. I tried conventional hearing aids and was always self-conscious. My hearing loss was affecting my family and frustrating them — and they were concerned for me, especially while driving. “After speaking to Dr. Lazzaro, I decided to be fitted with Lyric hearing aids, and I
Mrs. Dragovich with Dr. Lazzaro
couldn’t be happier with my experience. Dealing with Dr. Lazzaro and the staff at Hearing Center of Long Island became a wonderful experience. Thank you!”
-Amalia Dragovich Lynbrook, NY
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