Something like 28 million people could be helped by using hearing aids. Needless to say, when we talk about statistics like that, we normally mean that those 28 million individuals would hear their surroundings a little bit better if they had some help (like hearing aids). But there are also some other, fairly surprising health benefits that you can begin to enjoy thanks to your hearing aids.
As it turns out, something as easy as using your hearing aids could help your physical and mental health. Everything from depression to a risk of falling can be slowed or even prevented by these gadgets. Your hearing aids can literally help you stay on your feet.
Hearing Aids And Mental Health Benefits
Modern medical research has firmly demonstrated a connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline. The current thinking is that, for a mixture of social, mental, and physical causes, hearing loss can bring about an increased danger of mental illness, like cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and dementia.
So it’s not surprising that the latest analyses has shown that hearing aids could have considerable mental health benefits.
Dementia Risks Reduced
Your risk of dementia can be lowered, as reported by one study, by nearly 20%. And all you need to do to make the most of this amazing advantage is remember to wear your hearing every day.
In other studies, the onset of dementia was slowed by as much as two years by using hearing aids. Further research needs to be carried out to help explain and replicate these results, but it’s certainly encouraging.
Decrease Anxiety And Depression
Depression and anxiety are not symptoms that are unique to those who suffer from hearing loss. But people who suffer from hearing loss have been shown to have a higher risk of anxiety and depression over time.
Wearing your hearing aids can help you stay socially involved and mentally engaged. Hearing aids can be especially helpful if those factors are contributing to depression and anxiety.
You Won’t be as Lonely
While it may not sound as serious or imperative as dementia, for people who have untreated hearing loss, loneliness can be a real issue, social solitude often being the cause and worsening symptoms. That social isolation can cause substantial changes to your disposition. So being able to continue to be social and engaged thanks to your hearing aid can be a big benefit.
And this is a good reason why, for instance, your hearing aid can help prevent conditions such as depression. To some degree, all of these health conditions connect in some way.
Hearing Aids And Physical Benefits
As your hearing impairment worsens, there is some evidence that you may be at a higher risk of having a stroke. But that particular research is undoubtedly in the preliminary stages. It’s a little simpler 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: Frequently, it’s getting back up after a fall that is the real hazard, not the fall itself. Many new designs of hearing aids have fall detection as a standard feature. With certain settings equipped, when you take a tumble, a call will immediately be made to one of your pre-programmed emergency contacts so they will know to check up on you.
- Situational awareness: With hearing aids, your situational awareness will be enhanced letting you steer clear of obstacles and avoid falling down. If your pet, for example, is zooming out to say hi, you will be able to hear them coming and will be ready for them to be under your feet.
Falling can have rather substantial health effects, especially as you age. So preventing falls (or decreasing the damage from falls) can be a huge advantage that ripples throughout your overall health.
Wear Your Hearing Aids Everyday
It’s worth noting that all of these advantages apply to people who suffer from hearing conditions. If your hearing is healthy, then wearing a hearing aid will probably not decrease your risk of cognitive decline, for instance.
But wearing your hearing aids, if you do have hearing loss, is the best thing you can do for general health.