‘Headphone’ hack stops DEMENTIA?!

I have a teenage nephew who is constantly listening to his fancy, noise-cancelling headphones.

Much to his mom’s chagrin… who semi-jokes that he’s going to lose his hearing one day because he’s constantly listening to them on MAX volume.

And sure, studies have found that individuals who use headphones in an already noisy environment are at a 4X higher risk of hearing loss down the road…

But what if I told you that using your headphones (not at max volume) may actually save your MEMORY and STOP dementia?!

Check this out.

According to a research study out of Belgium, dementia patient’s overall quality of life can improve by using a personal ‘soundscape’ of familiar noises.

It turns out that listening to simple, soothing sounds such as birds singing or the patter of rain, can reduce the symptoms of the debilitating illness.

‘Familiar’ noises and sights have long been associated with helping folks with cognitive decline.

But what exactly is the connection between these sounds and a better quality of life if you have dementia?

Well, according to the study, listening to a personalized soundscape helps those with dementia by providing ‘clues’ regarding the time of day and place that otherwise may not be recognized.

The study also found that these personalized soundscapes improved sleep quality, and reduced agitation, anxiety, and distress – all of which benefit the quality of life of dementia patients.

Researchers continue to study the effects of soothing, ‘personal’ sounds as a way to treat (and even prevent) dementia.

In the meantime, listening to your own set of familiar sounds is actually easier than you think.

Did you know that a quick search on YouTube will yield all kinds of calming noises like rainfall, waves, birds singing, or even water flowing along a stream.

You can listen to them on your computer or your smartphone – with headphones!

To fighting dementia,

Sarah Reagan

Sources:

Study Finds. “Personal soundscapes full of familiar noises may improve quality of life for dementia patients.” https://studyfinds.org/soundscapes-dementia-patients/

Aaronson, Leigh. “Headphones and hearing loss: What to know.” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/do-headphones-cause-hearing-loss