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June 2025

• DEMENTIA •

June’s Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month is an essential time to convey knowledge that empowers quality of life improvement. This is crucial when 7.2 million Americans, about 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older, are living with Alzheimer’s Dementia, thereby affecting 10s of millions of care-giving family members, friends, and colleagues. With aging demographics evident and incidence rates rapidly increasing, the societal message is clear, each of us must be more In the Know.

By definition, chronic disease is a condition typically lasting 1 year or more, that requires ongoing medical attention or limits activities of daily living, or both. Are you surprised by these remarkable statistics?

As this continuum illustrates, Dementia is a chronic disease:

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While many have heard about The Alzheimer’s Association, Did You Know? they are the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research with a Public Health Mission of:

“Leading the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.”

Please invest 2 minutes to see their impact:

Recognizing that, nationally, millions are negatively affected by this chronic disease, state level statistics put a finer point on prevalence:

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Given this information, from a Whole Person Care perspective, let’s explore how auditory acuities intertwine with Dementia. You may be familiar with the term Comorbidity, which indicates how two chronic diseases or medical conditions typically relate to one another.

You and your loved ones should be aware there is a significant and growing collection of higher quality evidence which describes how hearing loss relates to Dementia. In other words, Hearing Loss and Dementia, each chronic in nature, relate to one another. This being the case, we are dedicated to:

Sharing wellness information you need and personal touch you deserve
Answering all your important questions about this topic and we encourage you to be curious
Prescribing personalized treatment plans which (as reputable research indicates) may decrease the risk, delay the onset or reduce the severity of dementia

Do you know the 10 Signs & Symptoms of Dementia?

Having discussed how common Alzheimer’s Dementia is, in various forms, how about one of its comorbidities, Hearing Loss?

Research indicates that:

In the United States, over two-thirds of adults age 70 years and older have a bilateral hearing loss (i.e., hearing loss in both ears). ¹ It was estimated over 44 million older adults would have hearing loss in 2020 with expected increase to over 73 million by 2060. ²

While hearing loss has its greatest prevalence among older adults, significant hearing loss is not necessarily an inevitable consequence of aging, as everyone has a different hearing trajectory shaped by genetic, environmental, and health related factors from across the life course. ²

Therefore, the scientific and clinical community has begun to recognize the potential protective benefit of hearing loss management, particularly for neuropsychiatric conditions like depression and dementia. ²

As a result, estimates suggest:

Delaying the onset of dementia by just 5 years through intervention could lead to a 57% reduction in the number of dementia cases and 40% lower cost for care and services in 30 years. ²

These numbers speak volumes and our compassionate team is dedicated to setting the highest standards of care which change people’s lives for the better.

¹ Data compiled from Goman et al. (2017) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures 2020 Report. Adapted from Powell et al. (2021).

² Powell DS, Oh ES, Reed NS, Lin FR and Deal JA (2022) Hearing Loss and Cognition: What We Know and Where We Need to Go.

Front. Aging Neurosci. 13:769405. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.769405

While we take your hearing care seriously, a little laughter goes a long way.

Good Humor, Healthy Hearing

Are you or any loved ones experiencing early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? By seeing us periodically, we can accurately evaluate your current hearing status and provide personalized solutions which empower you to hear your best, socialize in pleasurable ways and nurture mental resilience.

Our hearing care professionals want you to be Happy to Hear! Schedule your next appointment and count on us, for life.

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VISIT OUR NEW LOCATION

Exciting news! Focus Hearing has expanded, and we're thrilled to announce our new location. New office, same exceptional hearing care!

7500 W. 160th St, Ste 103

Stilwell, KS 66085

(913) 600-4619

Our Patients Say It Best

“Went today for a device check & cleaning and I was greeted by the lovely Dawn, who is a joy. Then saw Shannon, who updated & cleaned my aids. She, too, is a joy to deal with! We had a wonderful conversation. All in all, it was a delightful visit! Can’t wait to go back! They make it fun!”

— Rob M.