By Shay Moser
Exercise. Eat healthfully. Don’t smoke. Manage health issues such as diabetes. Most people know these habits are important for a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of dementia. Yet, many are unaware of the number one preventive health measure to prevent dementia.
“Treating hearing loss is eight times more important than reducing obesity and diabetes and four times as important as physical exercise to reduce the risk of dementia,” says Dr. Keith Darrow, the only Harvard Medical and M.I.T.-trained neuroscientist focused on private practice audiology.
Dr. Darrow is best known for his work as a neuroscientist and audiologist, but today his mission is educating people. He does this as an author and the director and founder of the Hearing and Brain Centers of America and the Excellence in Audiology network of offices throughout the U.S.
Highest-Rated Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Treatment
As part of the Hearing and Brain Centers of America national expansion to treat more of the 42 million Americans in need of hearing loss and tinnitus treatment, a Paradise Valley location recently opened.
Patients at the Hearing and Brain Center of America in Paradise Valley benefit from Dr. Darrow’s comprehensive programs for preventing decline through the medical treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus.
Patients see a team of experienced doctors and specialists who provide personalized hearing care plans based on their needs, lifestyle, and budget. The center offers several cutting-edge treatment options, which patients learn about at their initial complimentary treatment consultation. Plus, all treatments offer a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. And soon, Scottsdale residents will have a center nearby where they can get same-day treatments, too.
“We offer a completely new and simple approach at the Hearing and Brain Centers. The medical treatment of hearing loss and tinnitus is not a hearing aid. Instead, we’ve identified the most important aspects of treatment that improve hearing in all situations, reduce the ringing in your ears, and help you prevent cognitive decline and dementia.”
How Often Should You Get Your Hearing Checked?
Dr. Darrow says the easy rule of thumb to remember is “ears and rears,” suggesting that when you turn 50 is when we should all have our first hearing test.
It’s difficult to notice the initial signs of hearing loss without a hearing evaluation, says Dr. Darrow. But it’s more likely to affect life as we grow older because noise damage starts to add up.
A Listening Ear for Local Doctors
Many primary care physicians are starting to understand the connections between hearing loss and dementia, according to Dr. Darrow. So, they’re incorporating a question about hearing loss in medical evaluations.
Doctors who have patients that may have hearing loss or are between 60 and 70 years old, can refer them to the Hearing and Brain Centers of America for cognitive screening.
Learn more about the importance of medically treating hearing loss at the free, one-hour community symposium in Paradise Valley on Thurs., Nov. 3. Visit hearinganddementia.com or call 602-641-4179. You can learn more about Dr. Darrow at drkeithdarrow.com.
