“Can you turn the television down a bit?”

If you’ve heard that from a partner recently, you’re certainly not alone.

Hearing loss affects around 12 million adults in the UK, and for many people it develops so gradually that they barely notice it. Conversations in busy restaurants become harder to follow, family members seem to mumble more often, and the volume on the television slowly creeps upwards.

Most of us think of hearing loss as an inconvenience. But researchers are increasingly asking whether it may also affect the long-term health of our brains.

In fact, a major study published this year found that older adults who used hearing aids were significantly less likely to develop dementia than those who did not.

So, could looking after your hearing help protect your brain?

What Did the New Study Find?

Researchers followed 2,777 older adults with hearing loss for around seven years.

Some participants were prescribed hearing aids, while others were not.

By the end of the study, people using hearing aids were less likely to develop dementia.

The researchers estimated that around 5 in every 100 hearing aid users developed dementia during the study, compared with around 7.5 in every 100 non-users.

Overall, hearing aid users had a 33% lower risk of developing dementia during the seven-year study period.

The researchers were careful not to claim that hearing aids prevent dementia.

People who seek hearing tests and use hearing aids may also be more engaged with their health in other ways, which could influence the results.

However, the findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that hearing loss should not simply be dismissed as an inevitable part of ageing.

Why Might Hearing Loss Affect the Brain?

Scientists are still trying to answer this question, but several explanations have emerged.

One possibility is that the brain receives less stimulation when hearing becomes impaired.

Think of hearing as one of the brain’s main sources of information about the world. If that information becomes weaker, some researchers believe certain parts of the brain may become less active over time.

Another theory is that hearing loss makes the brain work harder.

When hearing is good, following a conversation is largely effortless. When hearing becomes more difficult, the brain has to spend more energy working out what people are saying.

Researchers believe this extra effort may leave fewer resources available for memory and thinking.

There may also be a social element.

People with hearing difficulties sometimes avoid social situations because conversations become tiring or frustrating. Over time, this can lead to less social interaction, and social isolation has itself been linked with an increased risk of cognitive decline.

The reality is likely to involve a combination of all these factors.

What Does the Strongest Research Show?

One of the most important studies in this area is the ACHIEVE trial, published in 2023.

Researchers followed nearly 1,000 older adults and compared a hearing intervention programme with general health education.

The results were mixed.

Across all participants, there was no clear difference in cognitive decline between the groups.

However, among people who were already at higher risk of memory problems, hearing intervention appeared to offer meaningful benefits.

This suggests that hearing care may be particularly important for some older adults, although scientists are still working to understand exactly who benefits most.

Why Researchers Are Taking Hearing Loss More Seriously

The 2024 Lancet Commission on dementia prevention identified untreated hearing loss as one of several potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia.

In simple terms, that means it is one of the factors people may be able to do something about.

The Commission also highlighted other factors that may influence brain health, including:

• Staying physically active

• Managing blood pressure

• Avoiding smoking

• Maintaining social connections

• Managing diabetes

• Treating depression

• Reducing excessive alcohol intake

No single factor determines whether someone will develop dementia. However, researchers increasingly believe that addressing several risk factors together may help support healthier brain ageing.

Who Is Most Affected?

Hearing loss becomes increasingly common as we get older, particularly after the age of 60.

Because changes often happen gradually, many people do not immediately realise there is a problem.

Common signs include:

• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves

• Difficulty following conversations in noisy places

• Turning the television up louder than other people would like

• Struggling to hear on the telephone

• Feeling that people seem to mumble

Often, family members notice these changes before the person experiencing them.

How Can You Check Your Hearing?

If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing, there are several simple ways to get it checked.

You can arrange a hearing assessment through the NHS by speaking to your GP, who can advise whether further testing or a referral would be appropriate.

Many high-street providers, including Boots Hearingcare and Specsavers, also offer free hearing tests. These assessments can help identify whether hearing loss may be present and whether further investigation or treatment could be beneficial.

For a quick first step, the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) offers a free online hearing check that takes around three minutes to complete using headphones at home. While it cannot diagnose hearing loss, it can help indicate whether a full hearing assessment may be worthwhile: https://rnid.org.uk/information-and-support/take-online-hearing-check/

Many people delay getting their hearing checked because the changes often happen gradually. However, hearing experts recommend seeking advice if hearing difficulties are beginning to affect conversations, television listening, social activities or everyday life.

The sooner hearing difficulties are identified, the sooner support and treatment options can be discussed.

Looking After Your Hearing

While some hearing loss is a natural part of ageing, there are still steps you can take to help protect your hearing:

1. Protect Your Ears From Loud Noise: Long-term exposure to loud sounds can damage the delicate structures inside the ear. Using ear protection when appropriate and avoiding prolonged exposure to very loud environments can help reduce the risk.

2. Don’t Ignore Changes: Many people wait years before seeking help for hearing problems. The earlier hearing difficulties are identified, the sooner support and treatment options can be discussed.

3. Stay Connected: Maintaining friendships, hobbies and social activities is important for both mental wellbeing and brain health. Addressing hearing difficulties can make it easier to stay engaged with the people and activities you enjoy.

The Bottom Line

Most people think of hearing loss as something that affects the ears.

Increasingly, researchers believe it may also affect the brain.

A major 2026 study found that older adults who used hearing aids had a 33% lower risk of developing dementia over seven years compared with those who did not use hearing aids. Other research suggests hearing care may help support cognitive health in people already at higher risk of decline.

Scientists are still working to understand exactly how hearing and brain health are connected, and hearing aids should not be viewed as a guaranteed way to prevent dementia.

However, the evidence increasingly suggests that looking after your hearing is about more than simply hearing conversations clearly.

It may also be one of the many steps that help us stay mentally active, socially connected and healthier as we age.