Having to go to the ER cause you to miss work, and also personal pain. What if you could lessen ER trips and significantly decrease your risk of anxiety, depression, and even dementia.
Emerging research makes the case that, for people with serious hearing loss, using their hearing aid could be the difference between staying involved and healthy and ending up spending many nights in the emergency room.
The Research
This University of Michigan study assembled participants ranging from 65-85. Each had extreme loss of hearing. But only 45% of the participants used their hearing aids on a regular basis.
This is on par with similar studies which have found that only about 30% of people who have hearing aids actually use them.
12 fewer, of the 585 individuals who did wear their hearing aid, had Er visits or unplanned hospitalizations.
This might not seem like a very big number. But it’s statistically significant.
And that’s not all. They also found that those who wore their hearing aids spend, on average, one fewer day in the hospital. Their time at the ER was probably reduced because they were more likely to show up for their regular doctor’s appointments.
How Can Emergency Care Visits be Reduced by Wearing Hearing Aids?
First for the obvious one. If a person is keeping up with their health, they’re more likely to stay away from ER.
Also, individuals who wear their hearing aids stay more socially involved. When a person is socially involved they are normally more committed to keeping keep their appointments and also have more help from family and friends getting to the doctor.
And driving is safer when you can hear, so you will be more confident if you are getting yourself to your appointment.
One study conducted in the U.S. found that depression is twice as likely in individuals who don’t use their hearing aid. Depression can result in a lack of self-care, which can lead to health issues.
The danger of falling and dementia are, as outlined by numerous studies, also decreased by wearing your hearing aids. As a person starts to suffer from hearing impairment, the corresponding part of the brain begins to decline from disuse. The rest of the brain is eventually affected. The disorientation associated with falls and symptoms of dementia are commonly the result.
Long hospital stays frequently accompany falls and falling is a major cause of senior death.
These are only a few of the reasons that hearing aids help minimize ER visits.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many People Avoid?
It’s difficult to come up with a legitimate excuse.
Some people don’t use them because they think that hearing aids make them look older than they actually are. This notion remains in spite of the fact that around 25% of individuals over 65 have significant hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and above have it. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It happens to many people. Additionally, hearing loss is on the rise even with 20-year-olds thanks to earbuds and the increase in noise pollution.
Ironically, constantly asking people to repeat themselves often makes a person seem much older than they are.
Price is frequently cited as a concern. However, financing is available for hearing aids and prices have come down in the last few years.
Finally, some don’t like the hearing experience with their hearing aid. This can typically be fixed by simply working with your hearing specialist to find out how to more successfully use your hearing aid in different settings. Hearing aids sometimes need several fittings before they are just right.
Schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.