Hearing Loss, Cognition & Health

With guest Jillian Price

Hearing loss affects many adults as they age. While the impact of hearing loss on health is varied, the relationship between hearing and cognition is notable. When it gets harder to hear information, you have to recruit additional brain areas to help you understand what you're hearing. A 10-decibel difference in hearing is equivalent to being two years older in terms of mental performance (e.g., memory). Identifying and treating hearing loss should be a priority because of its impact on cognitive decline.

Jillian Price is the Chief Audiologist for HearingLife Canada, a national chain of over 250  hearing healthcare clinics across Canada, and over 600 locations in the United States.  Jillian graduated with a Masters degree in Audiology from the University of Western Ontario in April 2004 and has 16 years of experience working with the adult population in a busy clinic.  Her role as Chief Audiologist allows Jillian to do what she really loves which is helping those with hearing needs and speaking to the public about hearing loss.  She is passionate about hearing awareness, hearing loss prevention and rehabilitation. 

Visit Brainshape.ca to learn about more relevant topics. Dr. Andrea Wilkinson has a PhD in Psychology with a specialization in Cognitive Aging. She has been studying brain fitness and cognitive maintenance for over 15 years. She co-founded BrainShape™ in 2014 - an online community for adults who want to enhance their mental & physical vibrancy as they age. Dr. Andrea is the host of the BrainShape Podcast™, a weekly show that covers the latest brain health research and shares interviews with experts in the field of health & aging.