Even when it’s somewhat minor, hearing loss can have a major impact on your life. The way you communicate with friends, coworkers, and family members can change substantially. Everyday activities like going to the grocery store can grow more difficult. But it doesn’t have to have this type of negative affect on you. Quite the opposite, a well adjusted set of hearing aids can make a huge difference.
Hearing aids improve your ability to hear, and that’s generally how most people think of them. And that’s not untrue. But how do hearing aids enhance quality of life? Just how far do the benefits of hearing aids go?
Hearing aid’s top ten advantages
We humans just love creating top ten lists. I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you woke up this morning. I mean, if you’ve known about your hearing loss for a while… maybe you did!
So here are the top ten advantages of using hearing aids.
1. You will have improved relationships.
For any relationship to be strong, good communication is crucial. But communication can be difficult when you have untreated hearing loss. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll be able to keep up with the conversation and get the entire story.
This also means you won’t feel left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations continue without you. So you will have an improvement in your relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. There is a strong link between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you have untreated hearing loss, tasks such as shopping or eating out can be a real ordeal. When you can’t hear very well, communicating with wait staff or cashiers can be challenging. But the whole process becomes easier when you have hearing aids. You can get around much more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your general situational awareness will be enhanced by your hearing aids. When you hear more of the world, you’ll be able to do more without any help, and you’ll be able to do it without as much anxiety.
3. Better hearing may result in higher pay
Let’s chuck out a hypothetical: if you’re losing large portions of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your job performance will suffer. This can result in diminished job prospects and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids securely in place and working correctly, you’ll be able to follow along with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from struggling to hear. This can improve your focus on work and put you in a better position to increase your income.
4. You’ll have diminished tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that ringing or buzzing in the ear that most of us have experienced now and then. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can frequently be felt much more powerfully (there are a host of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is only relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for instance).
With a hearing aid, many individuals note that they experience decreased tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, that’s because the hearing aid is overpowering the sound of the tinnitus. But we will take relief whenever we can, right?
5. Less chance of developing dementia
There is a solid connection between cognitive decline and hearing impairment. For instance, untreated hearing loss can significantly increase your risk of developing dementia. There are numerous hypotheses about why this may be, but the end result is that managing your hearing loss appears to be helpful! That’s why it isn’t a good idea to forget to wear your hearing aid. You may be giving your brain a greater chance of staying healthy longer.
6. Music can once again be appreciated
When you suffer from hearing loss music is harder to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one wavelength of sound first, then another. For example, you might be unable to pick up low frequencies. The music you used to like, as a result, might sound… different.
With your hearing aids, however, those missing holes in the music will be filled in, and you can appreciate music again! You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of just one or the other (or a muffled mess). Hearing your favorite song again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Your confidence will be boosted when you can hear better and have more successful interactions. And confidence is a great thing.
This isn’t to say that hearing loss should rob you of your confidence. We’re just saying that you may find yourself having a hard time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
A hearing aid can make those interactions easier again. And that can result in a boost in confidence.
8. Your energy will be higher
Your brain is probably working extra hard if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. The audio gaps that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t recognize that your ears aren’t working. That’s… a lot of work! And so, your brain is under constant strain.
Your brain gets to refresh and relax when you wear a hearing aid. It won’t need to work so hard. With this, continuous exhaustion and fatigue will be reduced. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are exciting for you with this increased energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have completely adjusted. Ordinarily, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. You’re accustomed to hearing the emergency siren before you check the rearview mirror.
You might presume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve neglected it, they really aren’t. And that can be a dangerous proposition.
This lost awareness will be recovered by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be wiser and less hazardous.
10. You will set a good example!
The one thing that can be even more difficult than change is personal growth. You’re admitting that things aren’t functioning effectively now when you invest in a hearing aid. But you’re also attempting to better the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? So you’re acting as a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. (It’s okay, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Get your hearing tested today
When you wear hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the biggest benefit. That one’s obvious. But as you know, there are tons of immediate advantages of hearing aids! This top ten list is only that, one little list of just ten of these advantages.
You might have an entirely different top ten list. No matter what advantages you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.
