At Hearing Assessment Center, LLC — with convenient locations in Warrenton, VA, Nottingham, MD, Lutherville, MD, and Bel Air, MD — we stay at the forefront of hearing care research. As new studies continue to illuminate the relationship between hearing loss and dementia, we’ve invested in a new tool designed to screen for the early signs of cognitive decline. Cognivue is a sensitive, easy-to-use diagnostic tool that provides patients with cognition information they can bring to their healthcare provider.
What’s the Link Between Dementia and Hearing Loss?
Dementia is an incurable and progressive condition that results in significant and permanent cognitive decline. Because there is no outright cure, one of the primary avenues of research is the identification of risk factors. Once dementia risk factors have been clearly defined, practitioners can make recommendations designed to limit those risks.
A recent study published in the Lancet — a well-respected, peer-reviewed medical journal — provides strong evidence that hearing loss is a major dementia risk factor. According to the article, titled “Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care: 2020 Report,” hearing loss is the single most preventable dementia risk.
For our patients in Warrenton, Nottingham, Lutherville, and Bel Air, this finding reinforces why hearing and cognitive testing are often the first line of defense against dementia. Here’s why that matters:
Hearing loss is often a slow-moving condition. The mental and cognitive strain caused by a gradual decline in hearing ability can significantly impact the brain, affecting memory, speech, and language skills over time.
Hearing loss is one of the most potent modifiable dementia risk factors. Unlike genetic predispositions, individuals can take action to protect their hearing — and doing so can positively impact their chances of delaying or preventing dementia.
Treatment and intervention can make a real difference. Hearing protection and hearing aids have both been shown to reduce dementia-related risks. Some studies have even found that patients who regularly wear their hearing aids can successfully slow the rate of cognitive decline.
Why Get Screened with Cognivue at Our Warrenton, Nottingham, Lutherville & Bel Air Locations?
At each of our audiology offices — whether you visit us in Warrenton, VA, Nottingham, MD, Lutherville, MD, or Bel Air, MD — we offer Cognivue as part of a comprehensive approach to hearing and cognitive health. Cognivue is a quick, approximately five-minute screening tool that assesses:
- Memory performance
- Executive function
- Reaction time
- Processing speed
The Cognivue screening process also evaluates a variety of other cognitive benchmarks, collecting data to provide a well-rounded picture of your cognitive health. Cognivue is not designed to be the final word on your dementia risk — rather, it serves as an early warning system, identifying possible red flags as early as possible.
Cognitive Screening as an Early Warning System for Dementia
Cognivue delivers a cognitive health result that is independent of your hearing score. Our audiologists at Hearing Assessment Center can use both your hearing results and your Cognivue results together to paint a more complete picture of your current cognitive health.
Based on your scores, Cognivue provides personalized advice on lifestyle changes aimed at improving overall cognition. The screening also generates a detailed report and data set you can share with your primary care provider or specialist to better guide next steps in managing your cognitive health.
Because of the well-established link between hearing loss and dementia, patients who visit our Warrenton, Nottingham, Lutherville, and Bel Air locations for hearing care may be disproportionately predisposed to cognitive risk — making Cognivue an essential component of a comprehensive hearing health checkup at Hearing Assessment Center, LLC.
If you live in or around Warrenton, VA, Nottingham, MD, Lutherville, MD, or Bel Air, MD, we encourage you to schedule a Cognivue screening at your nearest Hearing Assessment Center location today. Early detection is one of the most powerful tools available in the fight against cognitive decline.