Expert: Paula Damgaard - 5/27/2008

Question
My mother is 90 years old and has been living with us for the past 4 years. She was diagnosed with dementia 3 years ago. We have witnessed a significant decline in her memory and just recently her hearing has become almost non existent. Is there any correlation between dementia and loss of hearing? In the long term care world her ADLs are fine.

Answer
Hi Mary,  I hsve never heard of that happening before, doesn't mean it couldn't, but I would be having certain things checked out before I blamed the dementia.  Does she have a wax build up?  Has her hearing been checked?  As we age our hearing diminishes due to the breakdown of the little hairs in our ears, so I would check that out before I blamed disease.  

If you have checked all those out then, i would hsve to refer you to an ear specialist for them to diagnose her.  Sorry I am not much help on this one.  Paula