That loss of hearing can impact your brain has been established in numerous studies. (Some of our previous blogs clearly demonstrate that.) Hearing Aids, fortunately, have been proven to be able to help you recover some of that cognitive capacity.
This is not to say that hearing aids are in some way going to make you more intelligent. But there’s some compelling research that suggests hearing aids can enhance cognitive abilities, lowering your risk for anxiety, depression, and dementia.
Your Brain is in Charge of a Substantial Amount of Your Hearing
To recognize the connection between your ears and cognition, it’s crucial to realize that a considerable percentage of your hearing actually takes place in your brain. That’s where the vibrations of the world are converted into the sounds of your surroundings. So as your hearing wanes, the regions of your brain that decipher those sounds suddenly have a lot less to do.
When combined with other variables (such as social solitude), the alterations in your brain (and hearing) can lead to the onset of specific mental health issues. In persons with neglected hearing loss, it’s not unusual to observe an increase in the risks of anxiety, depression, and dementia.
When you wear hearing aids, you’re essentially “treating” your hearing loss. That means:
- You can stop your hearing from getting worse by using hearing aids in conjunction with regular monitoring.
- The regions of your brain responsible for hearing will get a more consistent workout; the more your brain performs work, the healthier your brain stays.
- You’ll be less likely to isolate yourself socially. You will be more likely to engage with people if you’re able to hear and understand conversations.
Keeping You on Your Toes
Hearing aids can lessen depression, anxiety, and dementia because they stimulate your brain and your social life.
- Cutting edge technology: Hearing aids have begun containing novel technology that is able to notify emergency contacts (or emergency services) when someone wearing the hearing aids experiences a fall. This may not prevent the fall in the first place, but it can prevent lasting injuries or complications caused by the fall.
- Raising awareness: Occasionally, because you’re not aware of your environment, you may have a fall. Your situational awareness can be significantly hampered by hearing problems. Not only can it be challenging to hear sounds, but it can also be challenging to figure out which direction sounds are originating from. Without treatment, this can wind up causing a fall or injury.
- The health of your inner ear: Inner ear injury is not brought on by hearing loss alone. Notwithstanding, sometimes loss of hearing and inner ear damage have a mutual cause. At times, a hearing aid is a component of the treatment program for loss of hearing which can also help inner ear damage.
Ultimately, when you’re using a hearing aid, you’re more likely to steer clear of a fall to start with. A hearing aid keeps you more alert, more aware, and more connected, strengthening cognitive attributes and general health in the process.
Start Using Your Hearing Aid
We haven’t even yet dealt with the basic hearing benefits of hearing aids. So when you take into consideration that amplified hearing, include the mental health benefits and physical well-being, it seems like wearing these devices should be a simple choice (not something you need to overthink).
The problem is that many people don’t know they have hearing loss. When your hearing disappears slowly, you may have a hard time recognizing it. That’s the reason why it’s critical to get your hearing checked on a regular basis. Without hearing aids, hearing loss can exacerbate a number of of other health concerns.
The right hearing aid can, in part, slow the onset of depression and dementia, while decreasing the occasions of some physical incidents. That’s a striking combination of advantages that hearing aids provide, and they also help your hearing.