Hearing loss and cognitive deficits: insights from pediatric populations

Dementia is a prevalent and costly public health concern, with more than 24.3 million people living with this condition worldwide, and approximately 4-6 million new diagnoses made each year.1 The underlying cause of dementia is not fully understood, but in recent years research has highlighted the association between declining sensory systems and cognitive function.2,3 For instance, declines in the olfactory, visual, and auditory systems are all associated with an increased risk of developing dementia. In particular, the auditory system has received substantial attention in recent years.4,5 Some have estimated that hearing loss contributes to as much as 9.1 percent of all dementia cases.6 However, there remains no clear evidence of a causal association nor a clear understanding of the underlying mechanism.