Your brain can be benefited by dealing with your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester study team. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were looked at by these researchers. The attention-getting conclusions? Treating your hearing loss can delay dementia by as much as 75%.

That is not an insignificant number.

But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to detract from the weight of the finding, of course, that kind of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the battle against dementia is noteworthy and stunning. But it coordinates well with what we already know: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your loss of hearing if you want to hold off dementia.

How am I Impacted by This Research?

Scientific research can be confusing and contradictory (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The reasons for that are lengthy, diverse, and not all that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the bottom line: this new study is yet another piece of evidence that implies untreated hearing loss can lead to or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? In certain ways, it’s pretty basic: you should set up an appointment with us immediately if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely start wearing that hearing aid as directed.

Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Wear Them Correctly

Unfortunately, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always immediately get into the habit of using them. Some of the reasons why are:

• The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t appear to be the way it’s currently working. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
• You’re worried about how hearing aids appear. You’d be amazed at the wide variety of models we have available nowadays. Plus, many hearing aid styles are manufactured to be very discreet.
• The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits well. If you are having this problem, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
• It’s hard to understand voices. In some instances, it takes time for your brain to adapt to recognizing voices again. We can recommend things to do to help make this endeavor go more smoothly, such as reading along with an audiobook.

Your future cognitive abilities and even your health in general are undoubtedly impacted by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing expert to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.

It’s more significant than ever to treat your loss of hearing especially taking into consideration the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s essential to be serious about treatment.

Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Connection?

So why are these two conditions dementia and hearing loss even connected to begin with? Social isolation is the prominent theory but scientists are not 100% certain. Some people, when faced with hearing loss, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses stimulate activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that the loss of stimulation can result in cognitive decline over time.

You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more effective natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a connection between the two should not be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can slow dementia by as much as 75%.