There’s a very basic message for anybody struggling with hearing loss: Use hearing aids.
Why? A recent study revealed that people who obtained hearing aids within three years of being diagnosed with hearing loss were less likely to experience dementia, depression, anxiety, and hazardous falls than people who didn’t receive hearing aids. While these health concerns aren’t proven to be eliminated by hearing aids, fewer health issues have been connected to their use. Results from the study demonstrated that hearing aid users were 18% less likely to develop dementia, 11% less likely to develop depression or anxiety, and 13% less likely to suffer a dangerous fall.
Stop The Excuses
If these figures seem low to you, it’s significant to remember that your health is at stake, and every little bit counts. Prior studies have demonstrated a connection between hearing loss and other significant health issues, but this study proved it’s an ongoing, worsening issue. It’s important to note that many people diagnosed with hearing loss don’t bother getting hearing aids. Why not? Not having the correct insurance to cover some of the expenses is a common problem. And the expense may still seem too high even for those who have insurance.
Others go through the motions, getting fitted for hearing aids and taking them home only to let them sit in the case because wearing them feels like too much of an inconvenience. Most people just turn up the volume to solve the problem and don’t think about hearing loss as much of a problem.
While it might seem as if hearing loss is inevitable as you age, there’s more to it than that, and turning the volume up is not the right solution.
Healthy Hearing is Vital
Obviously, a primary aspect of communication is the ability to hear. If your failure to communicate causes you to miss an essential instruction by your physician or guidance by a family member, that’s an issue. Consequently, communicating your symptoms and concerns will be challenging.
There are also some less obvious issues related to inadequate communication. When you struggle to hear and follow a conversation on the phone, you might lose touch with some of the people in your support system due to embarrassment and frustration. Not being able to hear might even result in less brain stimulus, and we all know that exercising your mind can help combat dementia.
The Benefits of Hearing Aids
Getting a hearing aid isn’t all about severe, long-term worries. Your long term wellbeing will definitely improve but hearing aids will instantly improve your quality of life. If you can hear and take part in conversations, it reduces your chances of feeling isolated and lets you partake more fully in your social life. You will minimize your anxiety even further when you are able to precisely communicate your health concerns with your doctor and comprehending his guidance for treatment.
Should I get hearing aids? The answer is yes if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Watching TV at very loud volume
- Constantly needing people to repeat what they said
- Being so intimidated that you won’t be able to follow conversations, you stay away from social interaction
- Background noise makes it difficult to hear when someone is speaking to you
These and potentially other symptoms might be a signal that it’s time to consider getting a hearing aid. Schedule a consultation with us to determine if a hearing aid is the right option for you, especially if any of these symptoms sound familiar.