Your brain can be benefited by dealing with your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester study group. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 people were evaluated by these researchers. The attention-getting findings? Dealing with your hearing loss can slow down dementia by up to 75%.
That’s a significant number.
And yet, it’s not all all that unexpected. The significance of the finding, of course, is still useful, this is an important statistical connection between the struggle against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have coordinates with these findings: as you age, it’s crucial to treat your hearing loss if you want to slow down dementia.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific research can be perplexing and inconsistent (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? What about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). The causes for that are lengthy, varied, and not really that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the bottom line: yet further proof, this research implies untreated loss of hearing can result in or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? In certain ways, it’s quite basic: if you’ve observed any possible symptoms of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us soon. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely start using that hearing aid as directed.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Prevent Dementia
Unfortunately, not everyone falls right into the practice of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- It’s difficult to understand voices. In many cases, it takes time for your brain to adjust to hearing voices again. There are things we can suggest, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this situation go more smoothly.
- You’re worried about how hearing aids look. You’d be surprised at the assortment of styles we have available now. Some styles are so discreet, you may not even see them.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits comfortably. If you are suffering from this issue, please get in touch with us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
Obviously using your hearing aids is crucial to your health and future mental faculties. If you’re having difficulties with any of the above, get in touch with us for an adjustment. Working with your hearing expert to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to treat your loss of hearing specifically taking into consideration the new findings. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are defending your hearing and your mental health.
Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two conditions hearing loss and dementia even associated to begin with? Analysts themselves aren’t completely certain, but some theories are associated with social solitude. When dealing with loss of hearing, some people hide themselves away socially. Another theory refers to sensory stimulation. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid helps you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, creating a more powerful natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a connection between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can slow dementia by up to 75%.