Taking care of your hearing loss can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of researchers from the University of Manchester. These researchers considered a team of more than 2000 individuals over a time period of nearly twenty years (1996 to 2014). The outstanding conclusions? Dementia can be slowed by up to 75% by treating hearing loss.
That is not a small number.
But is it really that surprising? The significance of the finding, of course, is still useful, that kind of statistical relationship between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is noteworthy and stunning. But it aligns well with what we already know: as you get older, it’s essential to treat your hearing loss if you want to hold off dementia.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific research can be confusing and inconsistent (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are countless unrelated causes for this. The bottom line is: this new research is yet further proof that suggests neglected loss of hearing can result in or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So what does this mean for you? It’s simple in many ways: if you’ve been noticing any probable indications of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us as soon as you can. And you should start wearing that hearing aid as advised if you find out you need one.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Forestall Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls directly into the habit of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The often cited reasons why include:
- It’s difficult to understand voices. In some cases, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can make this process go more smoothly.
- The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t seem to be the way it’s currently working. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
- The way hearing aids look worries you. Presently, we have a lot of variations available which may surprise you. Some styles are so subtle, you might not even see them.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits perfectly. If you are suffering from this issue, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
Your future mental abilities and even your health in general are undoubtedly impacted by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re having difficulties with any of the above. Working with your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
And in light of these new findings, treating your hearing loss is more important than it ever has been. Take the treatment seriously because hearing aids are protecting your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So why are these two health conditions loss of hearing and dementia even connected in the first place? Social isolation is the prominent theory but experts are not completely certain. When suffering from hearing loss, some people seclude themselves socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses generate activity in the brain, and some researchers theorize that losing stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over a period of time.
Your hearing aid helps you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more powerful natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a connection between the two shouldn’t be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can slow dementia by as much as 75%.