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June 2026 Update: Hearing Care Across Life's Journey: Aging, Safety, Travel & Dementia Prevention

In this issue

  • Healthy aging: Integrating hearing loss in chronic disease management

  • Hearing aids improve sense of safety and confidence in traffic

  • Maintaining ear health while traveling

  • Hearing and vision: Key factors in dementia prevention


Healthy aging: Integrating hearing loss in chronic disease management



A recent global analysis positions hearing loss as a rapidly growing contributor to multimorbidity among adults aged 45 years and older. Drawing on data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, the authors examined interactions of hearing loss and major chronic conditions - including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and depression.1

Years lived with disability (YLDs) attributable to hearing loss grew from 28.7 million to 67.9 million globally over the past three decades and are projected to continue increasing. Beyond its rising prevalence, the regression analysis showed that hearing loss is significantly associated with stroke and depression, reinforcing the concept that hearing loss is closely intertwined with both physical and mental health.

In line with the World Health Organization’s Healthy Aging framework2, which emphasizes maintaining  physical, cognitive, and social well-being across the lifespan, and the Multimorbidity Model3, which highlights shared physiological pathways underlying overlapping chronic diseases, the outcomes of the study suggest that an untreated chronic sensory impairment, such as hearing loss, can serve as a meaningful marker of systemic vulnerability – potentially amplifying the burden of other chronic conditions and contributing to functional and cognitive decline and social isolation.1

These data carry relevant clinical implications. Hearing assessment should not be viewed as stand-alone but as an integral component of chronic disease management in aging adults. Early detection and timely intervention may help delay functional and cognitive decline, reduce overall healthcare burden, and support healthier aging.1

 


References

1 Xue, Y., Ma, D., Zhang, Y., Dong, C., Ma, J., & Guan, L. (2025). The global burden of hearing loss and its comorbidity with chronic diseases: a comprehensive analysis from 1990 to 2021. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-22717-5


2 Beard, J. R., Officer, A., de Carvalho, I. A., Sadana, R., Pot, A. M., Michel, J.-P., Lloyd-Sherlock, P., Epping-Jordan, J. E., Peeters, G. M. E. E. (Geeske), Mahanani, W. R., Thiyagarajan, J. A., & Chatterji, S. (2016). The World report on ageing and health: a policy framework for healthy ageing. The Lancet, 387(10033), 2145–2154. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)00516-4


3 Valletta, M., Vetrano, D. L., Xia, X., Rizzuto, D., Roso‐Llorach, A., Calderón‐Larrañaga, A., Marengoni, A., Laukka, E. J., Canevelli, M., Bruno, G., Fratiglioni, L., & Grande, G. (2023). Multimorbidity patterns and 18‐year transitions from normal cognition to dementia and death: A population‐based study. Journal of Internal Medicine, 294(3), 326–335. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13683

 

 

Hearing aids strengthen sense of safety and confidence in traffic



For many adults, daily mobility is an integral part of working life and social participation.

  • In the U.S. the average travel time to work is 27 minutes and 69% of people drive to work alone.1

  • In Germany, nearly 43% of people spend between 30 and 60 minutes commuting each day, and around 10% travel for more than an hour.2 

Beyond travel time itself, busy train stations, traffic noise, and crowded urban environments can pose significant acoustic challenges – particularly for individuals with hearing loss. Reduced hearing ability can not only increase listening effort and stress but can also negatively affect the sense of safety in public spaces and traffic. 

Data from the German EuroTrak Study 2025 highlights that hearing aid use can have a beneficial impact on perceived safety in everyday situations:

  • 75% report feeling safer in urban environments.

  • 73% feel safer while driving in 2025 (66% in 2022).

  • 75% report a better sense of safety while cycling and e-bike riding (66% in 2022).

One key factor underlying these findings might be the restoration of directional hearing. Modern hearing aids have build-in microphone directionality which helps users to better localize sounds and determine the direction from which sounds originate; an ability that is essential for safe navigation in traffic.3 Being able to acoustically detect approaching vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians without visual contact can significantly enhance situational awareness. In addition, hearing aids help amplify various sounds like warning signals and subtle sounds, such as those produced by electric vehicles.3

These findings reinforce that hearing rehabilitation extends beyond improved speech understanding – it can meaningfully increase the perceived sense of safety, independence, and confidence while navigating traffic situations.4


 References

1 United States Census Bureau (2025, September 22). United States Commuting At A Glance: American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.


2 Statistisches Bundesamt (2022, May 15). Zeitaufwand für den Weg zum Arbeitsplatz. https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Arbeit/Arbeitsmarkt/Qualitaet-Arbeit/Dimension-3/zeitaufwand-weg-arbeit.html


3 Popelka, G. R., Moore, B. C., Fay, R. R., & Popper, A. N. (Eds.). (2016). Hearing aids (Vol. 56). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer.

  


Safeguarding ear health while traveling



Traveling can present unique challenges for ear health - especially for patients with hearing difficulties or those who use hearing aids. Changes in air pressure during flights, long drives, or new environments may cause certain discomfort. In case of pressure changes such as in an airplane, swallowing, yawning, or gently performing the Valsalva maneuver can help equalize pressure. Patients with congestion or sinus issues may benefit from a saline nasal spray or a pre-travel consultation with an ENT doctor.

Maintenance of Hearing aids require extra attention while traveling: 

  • Ensuring devices are fully charged

  • Carrying spare batteries

  • Protecting the devices from moisture and temperature changes by storing them in a protective case or using a dry box.

Activity-specific ear protections are another effective way to maintain ear health in different situations, such as traveling, swimming, enjoying concerts, or sleeping in noisy environments.

Our hearing care professionals at Local Brand can guide patients on the right type of ear protection for their needs and advise on hearing aid maintenance while traveling, ensuring both protection and comfort. With simple preparation and awareness, travelers can protect their hearing and ear health and enjoy their journeys safely.



 

Hearing and vision: Key factors in dementia prevention



Emerging research highlights that sensory impairment - particularly hearing and vision impairment – is associated with increased risk for dementia.1,2 

Several pathways may link sensory decline to cognitive health3,4:

  • Reduced sensory input: When hearing or vision declines, the brain receives less stimulation. Over time, reduced input may contribute to structural brain changes.

  • Increased cognitive load: Straining to understand speech or interpret visual information requires additional cognitive effort. This increased cognitive load may divert resources away from other cognitive processes and potentially accelerate cognitive decline.

  • Social isolation and disengagement: Difficulties in communicating or navigating daily environments may lead to reduced social participation. Social isolation in turn is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia.5

Hearing commonly begins to decline around the age of 506, while near vision changes can start in the mid-40s.7 Later in life, age-related conditions such as cataracts or macular degeneration may further affect visual function.8

Local Alzheimer’s associations raise the increased risk for dementia development due to untreated dual sensory impairment. See for an example here: https://www.alzheimer-forschung.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/meldung/vorbeugen-hoergeraet-brille/  Regular assessments of hearing and vision are essential for early detection and timely management. While the use of glasses is widely accepted, many adults delay seeking help for hearing loss.9 

Hearing care supports more than auditory perception. By improving access to sound, hearing aids can help maintain communication ability, social engagement, and cognitive stimulation.10,11,12 Proactive sensory care represents a practical and evidence-informed approach to fostering long-term cognitive health.

 

References

1 Jiang, F., Dong, Q., Wu, S., Liu, X., Dayimu, A., Liu, Y., Ji, H., Wang, L., Liu, T., Li, N., Li, X., Fu, P., Jing, Q., Zhou, C., Li, H., Xu, L., Chen, S., & Wang, H. (2024). A comprehensive evaluation on the associations between hearing and vision impairments and risk of all-cause and cause-specific dementia: results from cohort study, meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization study. BMC Medicine, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03748-7

2 Zumbrunn, N. M., Beckett, K., Karl, J. A., Newell, F. N., Hopper, L., & McGovern, D. P. (2025). The association between dual sensory impairment and dementia: a meta-analysis and systematic review of the literature. Age and Ageing, 54(9), afaf267. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf267 

3 Reed NS, Oh ES. New Insights Into Sensory Impairment and Dementia Risk. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(5), e2210740. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.10740

4 Urso, D., Giannoni-Luza, S., Alaoui, A. A., Ting, J., Jabbour, S., Fuente, A., & Logroscino, G. (2026). Impact of dual sensory impairment on dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 18(1), 211–220. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70104

5 Buxbaum, C., Chen, N., Nguyen, A. T., Shadid, J., Gillespie, K., Santomauro, D., Ong, L., & Steinmetz, J. (2025). Social Isolation and Risk of Dementia: A Burden of Proof Study. Alzheimer's & Dementia, 21(Suppl 6), e103742. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_103742

6 Tsai Do, B. S., Bush, M. L., Weinreich, H. M., Schwartz, S. R., Anne, S., Adunka, … & Dhepyasuwan, N. (2024). Clinical Practice Guideline: Age‐Related Hearing Loss Executive Summary. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, 170(5), 1209–1227. https://doi.org/10.1002/ohn.749

7 Singh, P., Zeppieri, M., & Tripathy, K. (2025). Presbyopia. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

8 Cvekl, A., & Vijg, J. (2024). Aging of the eye: Lessons from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Ageing Research Reviews, 99, 102407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102407

9 Powers, T. A., & Bisgaard, N. (2022). MarkeTrak and EuroTrak: What We Can Learn by Looking Beyond the U.S. Market. Seminars in hearing, 43(4), 348–356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-1758361

10 Lin, F. R., Pike, J. R., Albert, M. S., Arnold, M., Burgard, S., Chisolm, T., Couper, D., Deal, J. A., Goman, A. M., Glynn, N. W., Gmelin, T., Gravens-Mueller, L., Hayden, K. M., Huang, A. R., Knopman, D., Mitchell, C. M., Mosley, T., Pankow, J. S., Reed, N. S., Sanchez, V., … ACHIEVE Collaborative Research Group (2023). Hearing intervention versus health education control to reduce cognitive decline in older adults with hearing loss in the USA (ACHIEVE): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet (London, England), 402(10404), 786–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01406-X 

11 Timmer, B. H. B., Bennett, R. J., Montano, J., Hickson, L., Weinstein, B., Wild, J., Ferguson, M., Holman, J. A., LeBeau, V., & Dyre, L. (2023). Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations. International Journal of Audiology, 63(6), 381–392. https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864

12 Maidment, D. W., Wallhagen, M. I., Dowd, K., Mick, P., Piker, E., Spankovich, C., & Urry, E. (2023). New horizons in holistic, person-centred health promotion for hearing healthcare. Age and ageing, 52(2), afad020. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afad020.


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