{"id":870923,"date":"2026-10-04T22:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T22:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870923\/"},"modified":"2026-10-04T22:40:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T22:40:15","slug":"voice-disorders-and-hearing-loss-linked-to-dementia-risk-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/870923\/","title":{"rendered":"Voice disorders and hearing loss linked to dementia risk, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n

New research suggests that voice disorders, including shifts in vocal pitch, volume or clarity, could indicate a higher probability of developing dementia or cognitive impairment in the future.<\/p>\n

A study involving 833,417 participants aged 50 and older examined the connection between a voice disorder, hearing loss<\/a>, or both with the chance of developing cognitive impairment or dementia, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease, beginning a year after the voice disorder and hearing loss diagnoses.<\/p>\n

The findings from the study, conducted by a team at the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, were published in the Journal of Voice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

EVERYDAY TASK MAY HELP DETECT EARLY DEMENTIA SIGNS BEFORE DIAGNOSIS, STUDY FINDS<\/a><\/p>\n

Results showed that participants with a voice disorder but no hearing loss had a 58% increased likelihood of developing dementia or cognitive issues in the future \u2014 whereas participants with a voice disorder and hearing loss had a 104% chance.<\/p>\n

For all participants with voice disorders, with or without hearing loss, there was a 29% increased probability of developing dementia or cognitive impairment, whereas those with only hearing loss had a 27% greater risk.<\/p>\n

\"Older <\/p>\n

New research indicates that voice disorders can increase the likelihood of developing dementia in the future. (iStock)<\/p>\n

“We found the strongest link with dementia among patients experiencing a voice disorder and hearing loss,” said Robert Sataloff, a professor and chair at the Drexel University College of Medicine, Science Alert<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

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“Importantly, we found that those with a voice disorder and no hearing loss were at greater risk than patients who experience hearing loss only,” he added.<\/p>\n

Examples of voice disorders include laryngitis, vocal cord paralysis, vocal cord lesions and spasmodic dysphonia (laryngeal dystonia), among others, according to the Cleveland Clinic.<\/p>\n

\"Mature <\/p>\n

Voice disorders and hearing loss may discourage people from social interaction, which can play a role in dementia development. (Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Regardless of the possible correlation between vocal issues and dementia, researchers<\/a> noted that seeking treatment for a voice disorder could also benefit a patient\u2019s brain.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n

Hearing loss and trouble speaking could discourage individuals from socializing with others, and studies have shown that social engagement<\/a> can stimulate the brain and play a role in warding off dementia.<\/p>\n

Sataloff said that it\u2019s “only natural” for voice disorders and hearing loss to be connected to cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n

\"While <\/p>\n

Studies have linked hearing loss to an increased risk of dementia. (iStock)<\/p>\n

Those who experience pain or discomfort when talking or singing might “participate less often in brain-supporting social or other engaging activities,” he noted.<\/p>\n

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Despite the study’s findings, having a voice disorder<\/a> doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that future cognitive impairment is absolutely certain.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/a><\/p>\n

Additionally, it\u2019s not guaranteed that vocal issues indicate the beginning of a decline in brain function or the onset of dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Sadie Chafe is a writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! New research suggests that voice disorders, including shifts in vocal…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":870924,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[6053,97,149,10545,232221,673],"class_list":["post-870923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-alzheimers","tag-health","tag-lifestyle","tag-medical-research","tag-vision-and-hearing","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=870923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/870923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/870924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=870923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=870923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=870923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}