A person with hearing loss communicating with others can be compared to a shortsighted person reading without glasses: an impossible feat. World Hearing Day 2019, to be celebrated worldwide on Sunday, March the 3rd, will focus on the close link between hearing and social relations. It will stress the need to periodically check hearing abilities in order to maintain an active social life. This is an important current theme considering that, in the next 30 years, people with hearing loss will double: it is estimated that by 2050, over 900 million people will have hearing loss, compared to the 466 million people today.

The importance of hearing in interpersonal communication is also confirmed by a recent Italian study published in “Human Brain Mapping”: hearing loss, even if not severe, is associated with reduced brain metabolism precisely where auditory perception arises¹ . This means that a hearing impairment not only makes it difficult to “grasp” the words said by others, but also to understand their meaning. This can have a huge impact at a social and an emotional level.

More than 8 out of 10 people believe that hearing loss has a negative effect on their quality of life² ; likewise, untreated hearing impairment increases the risk of dementia (+21%) and, in men, of depression (+43%) ³ . On the occasion of World Hearing Day, experts launch the "Protect hearing, communicate better", vademecum, promoted by Amplifon. It includes advices on how to protect hearing and maintain an active social life.

In occasione della giornata mondiale, gli esperti italiani diffondono il piccolo vademecum “Proteggi l’udito, comunica meglio” che, promosso da Amplifon, raccoglie i consigli per prendersi cura del proprio udito e mantenere così una vita sociale attiva.

When we communicate with others, our ears and brain actively cooperate.

the sound of words is “heard” in the auditory cortex and “understood” from semantic and cognitive viewpoints in other areas of the brain. A recent Italian study confirms the close link between hearing and the brain. Using brain imaging techniques, the research has demonstrated that hearing problems create metabolic damages to the central auditory pathways located in the brain due to a reduction in blood supply. This results in neural networks alterations, which in turn can lead to difficulties in understanding the meaning of words and may place people at risk of developing diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

"We do not only hear with our ears, but also with our brains through the central auditory pathways located in the temporal lobe. These are brain areas that have an impact on both the quantitative aspects of hearing and the qualitative aspects of speech understanding.

This means - comments Ettore Cassandro, Full Professor of Otorhinolaryngology and Director of the Head-Neck Department at the University of Salerno, Past President of the Italian Society of Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery - that hearing loss may result in difficulties in communicating with others, problems that may in turn cause the onset of depression or, in more extreme cases, neurological disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease”.

It is thus not surprising that more than 8 out of 10 individuals admit that their hearing loss has negative effects on their quality of life² and that untreated hearing loss increases the likelihood of dementia (+ 21%) and, in men, depression (+ 43%)³ .

“Today we are exposed to many situations that can put our hearing at risk. To prevent the occurrence of a problem - commented Professor Cassandro - it is advisable to take simple precautions such as using earphones for a short period only, keeping at a safe distance from noise sources such as loudspeakers, and periodically checking hearing. In the event of a decrease in hearing abilities proved by a professional test, it is crucial to undergo a rehabilitation process led by the ENT and the audiologist, customised on the causes and evolution of the deficit, exploiting when necessary the potential of new-generation hearing devices. In addition to being almost invisible, these devices take advantage of the latest technologies to allow both quantitative and qualitative hearing recovery, while also guaranteeing high performance”