For anybody suffering from hearing impairment, the message is straightforward: Get a hearing aid.
Why? A recent study found 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 problems have been connected to their use. Results from the study revealed that hearing aid users were 18% less likely to develop dementia, 11% less likely to develop depression or anxiety, and 13% less likely to have a serious fall.
Refrain From Making Excuses
If these figures seem low to you, it’s important to remember that your health is at stake, and every little bit counts. Prior research has shown a correlation between hearing loss and other serious health problems, but this study verified it’s an ongoing, declining issue. It’s important to remember that many people diagnosed with hearing loss don’t bother buying hearing aids. Why not? For many, the absence of insurance coverage is a problem. And the cost might still be too high even with 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. Many people don’t view hearing loss 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 issue, however, and while hearing loss may seem to be an inevitable part of getting older, there is a lot more to it.
The Value of Healthy Hearing
Hearing is obviously a huge element of communication. If your failure to communicate causes you to miss a critical instruction by your physician or direction by a family member, that’s a problem. As a result, you might not be capable of conveying your concerns and symptoms.
There are also some less apparent problems related to inadequate communication. When you struggle to hear and keep up with a conversation on the phone, you might lose touch with some of the people in your support system due to embarrassment and frustration. And clearly, your chance of developing dementia is higher if your brain doesn’t receive enough stimulation which happens when you are unable to hear.
The Advantages of Hearing Aids
Severe long-term challenges are not all that wearing hearing aids is about. Using a hearing aid will immediately improve your quality of life, as well as your long-term wellbeing. You will have a more fulfilling social life and feel less isolated if you can hear and take part in conversations. When you can communicate clearly with your physician, you can accurately share the health issues you are experiencing and comprehend your doctor’s treatment plan to reduce your anxiety even more.
Is it time to look into a hearing aid? If you are dealing with any of the following symptoms, the answer is yes:
- Frequently needing people to repeat themselves
- Trouble hearing the person you are talking to if there’s background noise
- Avoiding social situations because you’re afraid you can’t follow conversations
- Watching TV at extreme volume
These and possibly other symptoms could be an indication that it’s time to think about getting a hearing aid. If any of them sound familiar, ask us if a hearing aid may be the right option for you.
