You At Your Best

12 | YOU AT YOUR BEST | nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST JUnE - mEnTAl HEAlTH | SATURdAY, mAY 25, 2019 Our patients succeed. You will, too! 479.957.9300 Wolfpackhearing.com 2630 E Citizens Dr #7 • Fayetteville, AR Best BestNWA.com of Northwest Arkansas the By ADveRToRiAL sTAFF nWA DeMoCRAT-GAzeTTe Many positive changes come with aging. Financial independence, freedom to pursue hobbies and more time to spend with loved ones are some such benefits. But as men and women age, they also must give consideration to those changes few consider until they're happening. Retirement, loss of a spouse, distance from family, downsizing, and fears of illness must be given their due attention so aging adults can get the assistance they need when they need it. Geriatric psychiatrists can fill the gaps where others cannot. The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry defines the profession as a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy with special training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders that may occur in older adults. These disorders may include, but are not limited to, dementia, depression, anxiety, late life addiction disorders, and schizophrenia. Although geriatric psychiatrists can treat these and more, they also may help adults navigate emotional, physical and social needs that come with getting older. The AAGP estimates that the rate of mental illness among older adults will double over the next 10 years from what it was in 2000. Many of the people treated will need assistance with symptoms of dementia. The organization Alzheimer's Disease International indicates there are more than 9.9 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide. Geriatric psychiatrists can provide specialized care to this unique demographic. Geriatric psychiatrists often focus on prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in the elderly, says the American Psychiatric Association, an advocate for improvement of psychiatric care for elderly patients. Geriatric psychiatrists understand how medication dosage and therapy treatments may need to be customized as one ages. These psychiatrics also can consult with experts in neurology and primary care physicians when there are symptoms across various fields, which may be the case when patients are experiencing memory impairment, anxiety and depression. Geriatric psychiatrists suggest speaking with mental health professionals early on if symptoms of low mood, restlessness, insomnia, and other hallmarks of potential mental dysfunction are present in elderly patients. This way doctors can step in early and improve their quality of life. GeriaTric psychiaTry provides support through aging Geriatric psychiatrists are tuned in to the unique needs of aging men and women. sPonsoR ConTenT By DusTin RiCHARDs, Au.D. WoLFPACK HeARinG CLiniC If I don't get hearing aids, am I going to get dementia? If I get hearing aids, will it prevent dementia? With recent research going public in recent years, the link between hearing loss and dementia is a topic that patients ask me about on a daily basis. As of this moment, the answer to both questions is simply, no. It is true that recent studies do establish a clear link between untreated hearing loss and impaired cognitive function. Research also establishes a link between the use of hearing aids and improved brain function. However, the research does not definitively tell us why these links exist. There are multiple theories that are likely true, but more research is needed before we can make such claims. What about hearing loss and mental health? Untreated hearing loss is linked with several mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The difference is we can point to research that shows untreated hearing loss directly contributes to these factors. You can use a calculation called disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to see how hearing loss affects your mental health. DALYs is the number of healthy years lost due to a disease or other health condition. A 2016 CDC report used this calculation to determine that for every year of untreated hearing loss, you lose 2.5 years of healthy life. On average, people wait about 10 years to do anything about their hearing loss. You do the math! What now? When patients ask me if they need hearing aids, I ask them if their hearing loss affects their quality of life. It's true that adopting hearing aids sooner in life rather than later is probably better for the brain. But true success with hearing aids comes with patient motivation. If you don't feel your hearing loss affects your quality of life and mental health, you probably won't be motivated to wear the hearing aids consistently. If you don't wear your hearing aids every day, you are probably not going to be successful. If that sounds more like you, I would still advise a hearing evaluation so we can at least track how your hearing changes over time. The decision to treat your hearing loss is ultimately up to you. The link between hearinG loss and menTal healTh

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