Hearing aids could benefit approximately 28 million people. This means that 28 million people could here their environment clearer if they wore hearing aids. But there are also certain other, somewhat unexpected health benefits that you can begin to enjoy thanks to your hearing aids.
As it turns out, something as straight forward as using your hearing aids could be good for your physical and mental health. These little devices can help stop (or forestall) everything from depression to fall-induced-injury. In many ways, your hearing aids can help you stay on your feet.
Hearing Aids And Mental Health Advantages
The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline is pretty well demonstrated by modern medical studies. Mental illnesses such as depression, cognitive decline, anxiety, and dementia, according to current thinking, can be triggered by hearing loss as a consequence of a mix of physical, mental and social factors.
So it’s no surprise that recent analyses has suggested that hearing aids might have considerable mental health advantages.
Reducing Your Risk of Dementia
Your chances of dementia can be decreased, according to one study, by nearly 20%. And all you have to do to take advantage of this awesome advantage is remember to wear your hearing every day.
In other studies, the arrival of dementia was slowed by as much as two years by wearing hearing aids. This is very inspiring and with more research done to replicate and clarify these figures, we can come a long way in the fight against cognitive decline and illness.
Anxiety And Depression Can be Reduced
Anxiety and depression are not symptoms that are exclusive to individuals who suffer from hearing loss. But there is plenty of evidence to suggest that those with hearing loss are at a higher risk of developing both depression and anxiety as time passes.
Wearing your hearing aids can help keep you socially active and mentally connected. If those factors were contributing to depression and anxiety, they can help.
You’ll be Less Lonely
While dementia might sound much more extreme, for people who have untreated hearing loss, isolation can be a real problem, caused by and exacerbating a sense of social solitude. Your general mood can be significantly affected by social isolation. So it can be a tremendous advantage if your hearing aids can help you continue to be socially active.
And this is a good reason why, for instance, your hearing aid can help protect against conditions such as depression. To a certain degree, all of these health problems are linked in some way.
Hearing Aids And Physical Benefits
There’s some evidence which suggests that as hearing loss symptoms become more obvious, your risk of stroke escalates. But this research is in preliminary phases. It’s a little easier to recognize the more pronounced physical advantage of hearing aids: you won’t fall as much.
There are a couple of explanations for this:
- Fall detection: In some cases, it’s not the fall that’s hazardous. Instead, it’s your inability to get back up that can be a real problem. Fall detection is a built-in feature of many newer hearing aid designs. With certain settings equipped, when you take a tumble, a call will automatically be made to one of your pre-programmed emergency contacts so they know to check on you.
- Situational awareness: Hearing aids can improve your situational awareness. If your pet, for instance, is zooming out to greet you, you will be able to hear them coming and will be ready for them to be under your feet.
As you age falling down can have a disastrous effect on your health. So your general health can be safeguarded by reducing damage from falls or avoiding them altogether.
Be Certain to Wear Your Hearing Aids
These benefits, it’s worth mentioning, pertain to individuals who have hearing impairment. If you have healthy hearing, then using a hearing aid will probably not decrease your risk of dementia, for example.
But using your hearing aids, if you do have hearing loss, is the smartest thing you can do for general health.