Even when it’s relatively minor, hearing loss can have a huge impact on your life. The way you interact with friends, coworkers, and family members can change drastically. Daily tasks like going to the supermarket can grow more challenging. But it doesn’t need to have this kind of negative affect on you. If you use a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a huge difference.
Most people normally think of those benefits in a really linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s not untrue. But how is the quality of life improved? What further advantages will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to invest in hearing aids
We humans just love making top ten lists. When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? I mean, if you’ve known about your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So here are the top ten benefits of using hearing aids.
1. You will have better relationships.
For any relationship to be great, strong communication is essential. But when you have untreated hearing loss, communication can be challenging. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little snippets of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the full story, and you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation.
This also means you won’t feel left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations continue without you. So your overall relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and loved ones, will improve. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll be more independent
Shopping at the supermarket or going to a restaurant when you have neglected hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. When you can’t hear very well, communicating with wait staff or cashiers can be tricky. But the whole process gets easier when you have hearing aids. You can navigate a lot more independently.
Driving will also be less hazardous. That’s because your hearing aids will enhance your total situational awareness (more on that in a bit). You won’t be as anxious about doing things by yourself when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Consider this hypothetical situation: if you’re missing large portions of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your work performance will suffer. This can lead to lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
With your hearing aids firmly in place and working correctly, you’ll be able to keep up with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from struggling to hear. By doing this you can have an opportunity to boost your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have reduced tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that the majority of people have experienced now and again; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. When you suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus can often be felt much more powerfully (tinnitus is sometimes more noticeable with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons as well).
Many people report that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they use a hearing aid. The louder overall external sound supplied by the hearing aid may be, in some situations, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But relief is relief.
5. Reduced risk of cognitive decline
Hearing impairment and cognitive issues are firmly connected. For instance, untreated hearing loss can significantly increase your chance of developing dementia. Treating hearing loss seems to be helpful, even though there are many theories as to why. That’s why it’s not a good idea to forget to wear your hearing aid. You might be giving your brain a better chance of staying healthy longer.
6. You can appreciate music again
When you suffer from hearing loss music is harder to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. Maybe you’re unable to hear low frequencies, for instance. As a result, the song you used to enjoy might just sound… strange.
You will be able to appreciate music again with your hearing aids filling in the missing sound. You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a garbled mess). It can be a great relief to hear your favorite tune again.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Your confidence will be boosted when you can hear better and have more successful interactions. And confidence is a great thing.
This isn’t to say that hearing impairment should take away your confidence. It’s just that, especially if that hearing loss is new, you could suddenly find it difficult to interact with others in the same ways you always have.
Those connections can become easier again when you use hearing aids. And that can lead to a boost in confidence.
8. You’ll have more vigor
If your hearing impairment has been slowly advancing, your brain has likely been working harder. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working right, so it’s constantly attempting to fill in the audio holes that your hearing loss has created. That’s hard work. And it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost constantly.
Your brain gets to recharge and relax when you use a hearing aid. It will have less work to accomplish. With this, continuous exhaustion and weariness will be decreased. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are inspiring for you with this enhanced energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is new, you might not yet have entirely adapted. Usually, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. Before you look in your rearview mirror, you would usually hear the oncoming sirens.
You may presume certain situations are safe when, because you’re not aware of your hearing loss, or you’ve neglected it, they actually aren’t. And that can be a hazardous proposition.
This lost awareness will be restored by using hearing aids. So you’ll be able to make smarter, safer choices.
10. You will set a good example!
The one thing that can be even harder than change is personal growth. You’re admitting that things aren’t working effectively now when you invest in a hearing aid. But you’re also attempting to better the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the kind of thing we should all strive for! So when you put in your hearing aids, you’re setting yourself up as a positive example and role model. (It’s fine, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Schedule a hearing assessment right away
The biggest benefit of hearing aids is that you get to experience hearing better. That one’s obvious. But there are lots of benefits to using hearing aids. This top ten list is only that, one little list of only ten of these benefits.
You might have an entirely different top ten list. No matter what advantages you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.