September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It’s also a timely reminder to consider the everyday aspects of your health that can influence how you connect with the world around you. One of these aspects is your hearing.

In its 2019 guidance on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified hearing loss challenges as a modifiable risk factor. Now, the WHO has updated that guidance, formally recommending hearing aids as an intervention to help address the risks associated with hearing difficulties.

The updated guidance highlights the importance of paying attention to your hearing as part of your overall approach to long-term health and well-being. For you, that can start with something as simple as understanding how well you hear and addressing any changes you may have noticed.

How Your Ears and Brain Work Together

Your ears collect sound and convert it into signals that your brain interprets, allowing you to understand speech and follow conversations. When speech becomes less clear, understanding what someone is saying can require more concentration.

This additional effort is known as an increased cognitive load, and it requires your brain to devote more mental resources to making sense of incomplete or unclear sound. Researchers consider this increased cognitive effort one possible explanation for the association between hearing difficulties and cognitive decline.

When keeping up with conversations becomes frustrating or tiring, you may find yourself declining invitations or participating less. Over time, pulling back can reduce opportunities for social connection and contribute to social isolation, which is also associated with an increased risk of dementia.

Addressing hearing difficulties early will make it easier for you to stay engaged in the conversations and activities that are important to you.

What the Updated WHO Guidance Means for You

The WHO published the second edition of its dementia risk-reduction guidelines in July 2026. The update draws on research published in the original 2019 edition and formally recommends the use of hearing aids, when clinically appropriate, as part of its broader strategy for reducing dementia risk.

Hearing loss is often described as a modifiable risk factor, which means there are steps you can take to address it. While you can’t control every factor that may affect your cognitive health, you can have your hearing evaluated, understand your results, and explore care options that are appropriate for you.

Could Your Everyday Conversations Be Offering Clues?

Hearing changes can be subtle. You might manage perfectly well during a quiet conversation at home, yet find yourself struggling when several people are talking around the dinner table.

You may notice that your children’s or grandchildren’s higher-pitched voices are harder to understand, or that you can hear someone speaking but have difficulty making out the individual words. Perhaps you find yourself asking people to repeat themselves more often or turning up the television even though others tell you it’s already loud enough.

If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or simply want to establish a baseline for future comparison, a hearing assessment can give you a clearer understanding of where you stand.

When you feel ready to take the next step, you can contact our team at Beck Hearing to schedule an appointment or request a callback.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Should I have my hearing checked if my challenges seem mild?

A: Yes. You should seek guidance even if you only notice difficulties occasionally or in certain settings. Struggling in restaurants, missing parts of conversations, or frequently asking for repetition are all worth mentioning.

An evaluation helps you understand your hearing and consider appropriate next steps. You can also discuss how often your hearing should be reviewed in future, based on your results and circumstances.

Q: Can hearing aids prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

A: No. Hearing aids are not a treatment or cure for Alzheimer’s, and using them doesn't prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

The updated WHO guidance focuses on reducing risk rather than preventing dementia outright. Addressing hearing loss challenges may help reduce the effort required to understand speech, make conversations easier to follow, and support social engagement, all of which are important parts of maintaining your overall cognitive health.

Q: Are hearing assessments only important for adults?

A: No. Hearing can be evaluated at any age, and children may benefit from hearing assessments when there are concerns about their hearing, speech and language development, or communication.

For adults, regular hearing checks become increasingly important, as hearing changes can develop gradually and may be difficult to notice at first.

Sources

· World Health Organization: Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia, second edition

· The Hearing Review: WHO Updates Dementia Prevention Guidelines