January 31, 2026

@michaelokun

Hearing loss in Parkinson’s: the silent non motor symptom we keep missing. Spoiler alert: hearing loss is twice as common in Parkinson's. What does non-motor mean? Non-motor refers to symptoms not related to movement, such as thinking, mood, sleep, smell and hearing. Firouzabadi and colleagues describe in a new paper in Movement Disorders how hearing loss is common in Parkinson’s disease and involves both the ear and the brain. Key points: - Hearing loss was present in nearly 3/4 of folks w/ Parkinson’s disease and was more frequent at high sound frequencies. - Folks w/ Parkinson’s disease were about twice as likely to have hearing loss compared to age matched controls. - Changes were seen not only in the ear, but also in brain pathways involved in sound processing and attention. My take: Hearing loss in Parkinson’s is not just about aging. It appears to be part of the disease biology and may show up early. If we miss it, we may be adding unnecessary cognitive load, isolation and stress for folks living w/ Parkinson’s. Hearing aids are essential to reduce dementia risk. Here are 5 points that resonated w/ me: 1- Hearing loss is a common non-motor feature of Parkinson’s disease and not just an age related issue. 2- High frequency hearing seems especially vulnerable and can affect understanding speech in real world settings. 3- Brain based sound processing changes suggest hearing loss may link to thinking and attention changes. 4- Recommendations for routine hearing screening should be part of comprehensive Parkinson’s care by health care providers. 5- Addressing hearing loss may reduce dementia risk, improve communication, reduce isolation and support brain health for folks living w/ Parkinson’s. https://movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.70206 #parkinson #michaelokun #fixelinstitute #hearingloss #hearingaid