There’s a very basic message for anybody suffering from hearing loss: Use hearing aids.
Why? A recent study found that people were less likely to develop health issues like anxiety, dementia, depression, and dangerous falls if they started wearing hearing aids within three years of being diagnosed with hearing impairment. While these health problems aren’t proven to be eliminated by hearing aids, fewer health issues have been connected to their use. The study reveals that seniors who wore hearing aids had a 13% less likely chance of having a hazardous fall. They also had an 18% less likely chance of developing dementia and an 11% less likelihood of developing anxiety and depression.
Refrain From Making Excuses
If these figures seem low to you, it’s essential to recall that your health is at stake, and every little bit counts. Prior research has shown a connection between hearing loss and other significant health issues, but this study proved it’s an ongoing, worsening issue. But many individuals who have hearing impairment don’t have it treated or ever use hearing aids. Why not? Not having the proper insurance to cover some of the costs is a typical issue. Even among those who have insurance, the cost might be too high.
Others go through the motions, getting fitted for hearing aids and taking them home only to let them sit in the case because using them feels like too much of an inconvenience. Many people don’t view hearing impairment as an important issue because they can turn the volume of the TV up to solve the problem.
Higher volume on the TV won’t solve the problem, however, and while hearing loss might seem to be an unavoidable part of getting older, there is a lot more to it.
The Value of Healthy Hearing
Clearly, a principal element of communication is the ability to hear. If your failure to communicate causes you to miss an important instruction by your physician or guidance by a family member, that’s an issue. As a result, you might not be able to convey your concerns and symptoms.
Other concerns related to a lack of reliable communication are less obvious. If attempting to have phone conversations leaves you feeling embarrassed and frustrated, you might start to lose touch with people in your support system. And obviously, your chance of developing dementia is higher if your brain doesn’t receive enough stimulation which occurs when you can’t hear.
Hearing Aid Benefits
Buying a hearing aid isn’t only about serious, long-term worries. Your long term wellbeing will definitely improve but hearing aids will immediately improve your quality of life. You will have a more fulfilling social life and feel less isolated if you can hear and participate in conversations. When you can communicate clearly with your doctor, you can effectively share the health concerns you are experiencing and comprehend your doctor’s treatment plan to reduce your anxiety further.
Do I need hearing aids? If you have any of the following symptoms, the answer is yes:
- Watching TV at very loud volume
- Trouble hearing the person you are speaking to if there is background noise
- Keeping away from social situations because you’re afraid you can’t follow conversations
- Frequently needing people to repeat what they said
These are only a few of the symptoms that might reveal you need to look into a hearing aid. If any of them sound familiar, ask us if a hearing aid may be the right choice for you.