Hearing aids could benefit around 28 million people. Needless to say, when we discuss data like that, we usually mean that those 28 million individuals would hear their surroundings a little bit better if they had some help (in the form of a specialized device). But your hearing aids can also help you enjoy some other health advantages.
As it turns out, something as simple as using your hearing aids could be good for your physical and mental health. These little gadgets can help stop (or delay) everything from depression to fall-induced-injury. In more ways than one, your hearing aids can help you stay on your feet.
Hearing Aids And Mental Health Benefits
Modern medical studies have solidly demonstrated a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Mental illnesses like dementia, cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression, in line with current thinking, can be induced by hearing loss due to a combination of mental, physical and social factors.
So it’s not surprising that recent analyses has shown that hearing aids could have substantial mental health benefits.
Reducing Your Chances of Dementia
According to one study, wearing your hearing aids can help decrease your risk of developing dementia by up to 18%. And all you have to do to make the most of this awesome advantage is remember to wear your hearing every day.
In other research, the arrival of dementia was delayed by as much as two years by wearing hearing aids. This is really encouraging and with more research conducted to replicate and clarify these numbers, we can come a long way in the fight against cognitive decline and illness.
Depression And Anxiety Can be Decreased
Lots of individuals suffer from anxiety and depression even if hearing loss is not a problem for them. But individuals who have hearing loss have been shown to have a higher risk of anxiety and depression over time.
When you have hearing aids, you are likely to stay more mentally focused and engaged socially. Hearing aids can be especially helpful if those factors are contributing to depression and anxiety.
You Won’t Feel as Lonely
While dementia might sound much more severe, loneliness can be a big issue for those who suffer from neglected hearing loss, social solitude often being the cause and adding fuel to the fire. That social separation can cause significant changes to your disposition. So being able to continue to be social and involved thanks to your hearing aid can be a big benefit.
To be sure, this is connected to your hearing aids’ ability to lower the risks of depression, for instance. All of these health concerns, to some extent, are in some manner connected.
Hearing Aids And Physical Advantages
There is some data which suggests that as hearing loss symptoms become more apparent, your risk of stroke goes up. But this research is in preliminary phases. It’s a little easier to recognize the more pronounced physical benefit of hearing aids: you won’t fall as often.
This takes place for two reasons:
- Situational awareness: With hearing aids, your situational awareness will be enhanced allowing you to steer clear of obstacles and avoid falling down.
- Fall detection: Frequently, it’s getting back up after a fall that is the real danger, not the fall itself. Fall detection is a built-in feature of many newer hearing aid models. With certain settings enabled, when you take a tumble, a call will immediately be made to one of your pre-programmed emergency contacts so they know to check on you.
Falling can have pretty substantial health impacts, especially as you get older. So your general health can be safeguarded by reducing damage from falls or preventing them entirely.
Be Certain to Wear Your Hearing Aids
These advantages, it’s worth mentioning, pertain to people who suffer from hearing impairment. Hearing aids won’t, for instance, help somebody with healthy hearing avoid falling.
But wearing your hearing aids, if you do have hearing loss, is the best thing you can do for general health.