Your brain can be benefited by taking care of your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of analysts from the University of Manchester. These analysts considered a team of around 2000 participants over the course of almost twenty years (1996 to 2014). The unexpected outcome? Dementia can be delayed by as much as 75% by managing your hearing loss.
That’s a considerable number.
Nevertheless, it’s not all that surprising. That’s not to take away from the importance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical correlation between the fight against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have coordinates with these findings: treating your hearing loss is imperative to slowing cognitive decline as you get older.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific studies can be inconsistent and perplexing (should I eat eggs, should I not eat eggs? How about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The reasons for that are long, diverse, and not all that pertinent to our discussion here. Because here’s the main point: yet further proof, this research reveals neglected loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s straightforward in some ways: you need to come see us immediately if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely begin wearing that hearing aid as advised.
Hearing Aids Assist in Preventing Dementia When You Wear Them Regularly
Regrettably, when most people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of wearing them. Some of the reasons why are:
- How hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be amazed at the wide variety of styles we have available currently. Some styles are so subtle, you may not even notice them.
- The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t seem 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.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits perfectly. If you are experiencing this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
- It’s hard to understand voices. In many instances, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are things we can suggest, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can make this endeavor easier.
Your future mental abilities and even your health as a whole are undoubtedly affected by using hearing aids. If you’re having difficulties with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Working with your hearing expert to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
And in light of these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more important than ever. Take the treatment seriously because hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Connection Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the real link between dementia and hearing loss? Social isolation is the prominent theory but scientists are not 100% certain. Many people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. Over the years, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain receives less activity which then results in cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, delivering a more robust natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a link between the two shouldn’t be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can slow down dementia by up to 75%.