Cassandra Wilson, AuD

Hearing Services of McKinney

By Meredith Knight | Photos by Amber Boykin Photography

Dr. Cassandra Wilson has a message for anyone who’s reluctant to address their hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss greatly increases your risk of Alzheimer’s. In a 12-year Johns Hopkins study, researchers found that mild hearing loss doubled the risk of dementia, moderate loss tripled the risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia. “Hearing loss is pulling from other parts of the brain,” Dr. Wilson explained. “We hear with our ears, but we listen with our brain.”

That’s why Dr. Wilson has invested in
Cognivue, a five-minute, in-office screening that objectively, quantitatively, and reliably identifies changes in cognitive function that could be indicative of an impairment. “We’re not trying to diagnose cognitive impairment,” Dr. Wilson said. “We’re screening to see how patients are processing information, remembering things, and paying attention to things. If there’s a need for further referral, we recommend our patients to the appropriate professional.”

Dr. Wilson often encounters patients who are reluctant to address their hearing loss because they fear it will make them look or feel old. But gone are the days of clunky, whistling hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids are sleek, discrete, and blue-tooth compatible. They connect directly to your cell phone and adjust themselves as your environment changes. “You can actually look and feel younger by giving your brain what it needs,” Dr. Wilson said. Find out more at HearInMcKinney.com.