Hearing aids could benefit about 28 million people. Needless to say, when we talk about data like that, we generally mean that those 28 million people would hear the world a little more clearly if they had some help (like hearing aids). But there are also some other, somewhat surprising health benefits that you can start to enjoy thanks to your hearing aids.
It turns out that something as easy as using your hearing aids could help your mental and physical health. These tiny gadgets can help counter (or forestall) everything from depression to fall-induced-injury. Your hearing aids can literally keep you on your feet.
Hearing Aids And Mental Health Advantages
The connection between untreated hearing loss and mental decline is fairly well established by modern medical research. The current thinking is that, for a mixture of social, mental, and physical reasons, hearing loss can lead to an escalated risk of mental illness, including 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 advantages.
Reducing Your Chances of Dementia
Based on one study, wearing your hearing aids can help decrease your risk of developing dementia by up to 18%. That’s a wonderful benefit when all you have to do is remember to wear your hearing aids on a daily basis.
Other research has suggested that wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis can forestall the onset of dementia by up to a couple of years. 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.
Reduce Depression And Anxiety
Countless people 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 wear hearing aids, you are likely to stay more mentally focused and socially engaged. Hearing aids can be particularly helpful if those factors are contributing to depression and anxiety.
You’ll be Less Lonely
While dementia might sound much more severe, for people who have untreated hearing loss, loneliness can be a real issue, caused by and exacerbating a sense of social isolation. 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 problems, to some extent, are in some manner connected.
Hearing Aids And Physical Benefits
There is some data which suggests that as hearing loss symptoms become more noticeable, your danger of stroke goes up. But this research is in preliminary phases. The most pronounced (and perceptible) physical benefit of hearing aids is a little simpler: you won’t fall as much.
There are a couple of explanations for this:
- Situational awareness: Hearing aids can enhance your situational awareness. For example, if your pet is running up to you, you hear them and expect them to come racing around the corner.
- Fall detection: At times, it’s not the fall that’s dangerous. Rather, it’s your inability to get back up that produces possible danger. 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 automatically be made to one of your pre-programmed emergency contacts so they will know to check up on you.
As you age falling down can have a devastating impact on your health. So preventing falls (or minimizing the damage from falls) can be a significant benefit that ripples throughout your overall health.
Wear Your Hearing Aids Everyday
It’s worth noting that all of these benefits apply to people who suffer from hearing conditions. If you have healthy hearing, then wearing a hearing aid will likely not reduce your risk of cognitive decline, for example.
But wearing your hearing aids, if you do have hearing loss, is the best thing you can do for general health.