Taking care of your loss of hearing can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of analysts out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of approximately 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were examined by these investigators. The outstanding results? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by dealing with hearing loss.
That is not a small number.
But still, it’s not really that unexpected. That’s not to take away from the importance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical correlation between the battle against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But it aligns well with what we currently know: as you age, it’s vital to treat your hearing loss if you want to delay dementia.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always believe the information provided in scientific studies because it can frequently be inconsistent. The reasons for that are long, diverse, and not all that pertinent to our discussion here. Because here’s the main point: yet another piece of evidence, this research reveals neglected loss of hearing can result in or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in several ways: you need to come see us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you need a hearing aid, you should absolutely start wearing that hearing aid as directed.
When You Use Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Counter Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The often cited reasons why include:
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. Today, we have a lot of designs available which may surprise you. Some styles are so subtle, you might not even see them.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits well. If you are having this issue, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adjust to hearing voices. There are things we can recommend, like reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this process go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it works the way it should. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
Clearly using your hearing aids is crucial to your health and future cognitive faculties. If you’re trying to cope with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Sometimes the answer will take time or patience, but working with your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids work for you is just part of the process.
It’s more significant than ever to manage your hearing loss especially taking into consideration the new findings. Take the treatment seriously because hearing aids are defending your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Link Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the real link between dementia and hearing loss? Scientists themselves aren’t completely certain, but some theories are associated with social isolation. Some people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. Another theory relates to sensory stimulation. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then results in cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, delivering a more effective natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why treating hearing loss can delay dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.
