Hearing loss can seriously impact how you live, even when it’s mild. The way you connect with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change drastically. Daily activities like going to the supermarket can grow more difficult. But it doesn’t have to have this type of negative impact on you. On the contrary, a well calibrated pair of hearing aids can make a big difference.
Hearing aids improve your ability to hear, and that’s normally how most people think of them. And that’s not untrue. But how do hearing aids improve quality of life? What further benefits will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We humans just love making top ten lists. When you got up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? Well, perhaps you did if you’ve been coping with your hearing loss for a while.
So here are the top ten benefits of wearing hearing aids.
1. You will have better relationships.
Strong communication is critical to any great relationship. But communication can be difficult when you have untreated hearing loss. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the entire conversation without losing anything. You’ll be able to follow along with the conversation and get the whole story.
You won’t be resentful and feel excluded from conversations. So your general relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. There is a strong link between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll have greater independence
Shopping at the grocery store or going to a restaurant when you have untreated hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. When you’re unable to hear all that well, communicating with cashiers and wait staff can be difficult. But with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process quickly becomes a lot easier. You can navigate much more independently.
Driving will also be safer. That’s because your hearing aids will increase your all-around situational awareness (more on that later). You will be less anxious about doing things on your own when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You might make more money
Consider this hypothetical scenario: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being talked about during meetings at work, your work performance will suffer. This can lead to lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
When you’re wearing precisely tuned hearing aids, you will be less exhausted from straining to hear, and following along with those meetings will be much easier. By doing this you can have a chance to raise your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. Your tinnitus symptoms will diminish
Tinnitus is one of those things that most individuals have experienced now and again; it’s that buzzing or ringing in your ear. Tinnitus symptoms will usually be more intense and more often with hearing loss (tinnitus is sometimes louder with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons as well).
With a hearing aid, many people note that they experience diminished tinnitus symptoms. The louder overall outside sound provided by the hearing aid might be, in some situations, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But we will take relief whenever we can, right?
5. Reduced chance of cognitive decline
Hearing impairment and cognitive issues are firmly connected. Your chance of developing dementia can be seriously elevated by neglecting hearing loss, for instance. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, though there are many theories as to why. That’s why it isn’t a good idea to forget to put in your hearing aid. You might be giving your brain a better chance of staying healthy longer.
6. You can enjoy music again
It’s difficult to appreciate music, in its whole entirety, when you have hearing impairment. That’s because one wavelength of sound normally goes before the others. For example, you may be unable to pick up low frequencies. As a result, the song you once enjoyed may just sound… strange.
You will be able to appreciate music again with your hearing aids replacing missing sound. You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a muffled mess). Hearing your favorite tune again can be extremely enjoyable.
7. Your confidence will grow
Your confidence will be boosted when you can hear better and have more effective interactions. And who doesn’t want confidence?
This is not to say that hearing loss should take away your confidence. We’re just saying that you might find yourself having a difficult time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
Those interactions can become easier again with hearing aids. And that can result in a boost in confidence.
8. Your vitality will be increased
Your brain is probably working extra hard if your hearing loss is slowly progressing. The audio gaps that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t recognize that your ears aren’t functioning. That’s hard work. And so, your brain is under constant strain.
Your brain gets to recharge and relax when you use a hearing aid. It won’t need to work as hard. With this, persistent tiredness and weariness will be reduced. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more perceptive of your environment
You might not have adapted to your hearing loss, particularly if it’s new. Ordinarily, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. You’re used to hearing the ambulance siren before you look in the rearview mirror.
You may assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re not aware of your hearing loss, or you’ve ignored it, they really aren’t. And that can be a hazardous proposition.
This lost awareness will be restored by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be smarter and less hazardous.
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 trying to improve the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? So you’re acting as a role model and a positive example when you wear your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam right away
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy 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.
Your top ten list may look a little different. Making an appointment with us for a hearing exam is the first step no matter what benefits you look forward to.
