Something like 28 million people could be helped by wearing hearing aids. Of course, when we discuss data like that, we generally mean that those 28 million individuals would hear their surroundings a little bit more clearly if they had some help (in the form of a specialized device). But there are also a number of other, fairly surprising health advantages that you can begin to take advantage of thanks to your hearing aids.
It turns out that something as easy as wearing your hearing aids could be good for your mental and physical health. Everything from a risk of falling to depression can be delayed or even prevented by these devices. In more ways than one, your hearing aids can help you stay on your feet.
Mental Health Advantages of Hearing Aids
The link between untreated hearing loss and mental decline is rather well established by modern medical research. Currently, the thinking is that, for a mixture of social, mental, and physical causes, hearing loss can lead to an increased risk of mental illness, including cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, and dementia.
So it’s no surprise that recent analyses has shown that hearing aids may have considerable mental health benefits.
Dementia Risks Decreased
Based on one study, wearing your hearing aids can help decrease your risk of developing dementia by up to 18%. And all you need to do to take advantage of this awesome benefit is remember to wear your hearing every day.
Other studies have indicated that wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis can forestall the onset of dementia by as many as two years. This is very inspiring and with more research conducted to replicate and clarify these numbers, we can come a long way in the fight against mental decline and illness.
Decrease Anxiety And Depression
Depression and anxiety are not symptoms that are unique to individuals who suffer from hearing loss. But individuals who have hearing loss have been shown to have a higher risk of depression and anxiety over time.
Wearing your hearing aids can help you stay socially involved and mentally connected. Hearing aids can be especially helpful if those factors are contributing to depression and anxiety.
You’ll Feel Less Lonely
While it may not sound as serious or important as dementia, loneliness can be a serious issue for people who suffer from untreated hearing loss, caused by and exacerbating a sense of social isolation. Your general mood can be dramatically impacted by social isolation. So being able to remain social and involved with help from your hearing aid can be a big benefit.
And this is an excellent reason why, for instance, your hearing aid can help counter conditions like depression. To a certain degree, all of these health conditions connect in some way.
Hearing Aids And Physical Advantages
As your hearing impairment worsens, there is some evidence that you may be at a higher risk of stroke. But this research is in preliminary phases. The most obvious (and noticeable) physical benefit of hearing aids is a little simpler: you’ll fall less often.
There are a couple of reasons for this:
- Fall detection: Often, it’s getting back up after a fall that is the significant danger, not the fall itself. Fall detection is a standard feature of many newer hearing aid designs. You can save emergency phone numbers into your phone which will automatically be called if you take a tumble.
- Situational awareness: For example, if your pet is running up to you, you will hear them and expect them to come racing around the corner.
As you grow older falling down can have a disastrous effect on your health. So avoiding falls (or reducing the damage from falls) can be a huge advantage that ripples throughout your overall health.
Be Sure to Wear Your Hearing Aids
These benefits, it’s worth mentioning, pertain to individuals who have hearing impairment. Hearing aids won’t, for instance, help someone with healthy hearing avoid a fall.
But if you do suffer from hearing loss, the smartest thing you can do for your hearing, and for overall health, is to wear your hearing aids.