Hearing aids could benefit about 28 million people. Of course, when we discuss statistics like that, we usually mean that those 28 million individuals would hear their surroundings a little more clearly if they had some help (like hearing aids). But your hearing aids will also help you take advantage of some other health benefits.
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 delay) everything from depression to fall-induced-injury. In more ways than one, your hearing aids can help keep you on your feet.
Hearing Aids And Mental Health Advantages
Modern medical studies have solidly established a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Currently, the thinking is that, for a combination of mental, social, and physical causes, hearing loss can trigger an escalated risk of mental illness, including cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and dementia.
So it’s no surprise that the latest analyses has suggested that hearing aids may have substantial mental health advantages.
Decreasing Your Chances of Dementia
According to one study, wearing your hearing aids can help decrease your risk of developing dementia by as much as 18%. And all you need to do to make the most of this awesome advantage is remember to wear your hearing daily.
Other studies have indicated that wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis can slow the onset of dementia by as many as a couple of years. Further research needs to be done to help explain and replicate these findings, but it’s certainly encouraging.
Decrease Depression And Anxiety
Many individuals suffer from depression and anxiety even if hearing loss is not a problem for them. But people who have hearing loss have been shown to be at a higher risk of depression and anxiety over time.
When you have hearing aids, you are likely to stay more mentally focused and engaged socially. If those factors were contributing to depression and anxiety, they can help.
You’ll be Less Lonely
While it might not seem as dire or imperative as dementia, for individuals who have neglected hearing loss, loneliness can be a genuine issue, caused by and exacerbating a sense of social isolation. Your general mood can be considerably impacted by social separation. So it can be a tremendous advantage if your hearing aids can help you continue to be socially active.
To be certain, this is connected to your hearing aids’ ability to reduce the risks of depression, for example. To a certain degree, all of these health conditions connect in some manner.
Hearing Aids And Physical Benefits
As your hearing impairment gets worse, there is some research that shows that you might be at a higher risk of stroke. But that particular research is undoubtedly on the preliminary side. The most obvious (and perceptible) physical advantage of hearing aids is a little more straightforward: you’ll fall less often.
This happens for two reasons:
- Situational awareness: With hearing aids, your situational awareness will be improved letting you steer clear of obstacles and avoid falling down.
- Fall detection: In some cases, it’s not the fall that’s hazardous. Rather, it’s that you can’t get back up that produces possible danger. Fall detection is a standard feature of many newer hearing aid models. You can program emergency phone numbers into your phone which will automatically be called if you take a tumble.
Falling can have rather significant health impacts, especially as you age. So your overall health can be safeguarded by decreasing damage from falls or avoiding them altogether.
Be Sure to Wear Your Hearing Aids
It’s worth keeping in mind that all of these benefits apply to individuals who have hearing ailments. If your hearing is healthy, then wearing a hearing aid will probably not decrease your risk of cognitive decline, for example.
But if you do suffer from hearing loss, the smartest thing you can do for your ears, and for overall health, is to wear your hearing aids.
