Taking care of your hearing loss can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of researchers from the University of Manchester. These researchers looked at a team of around 2000 participants over the course of approximately twenty years (1996 to 2014). The surprising outcome? Treating your hearing loss can slow dementia by up to 75%.
That is not a small number.
Nevertheless, it’s not all all that surprising. The significance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, that sort of statistical relationship between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is important and eye-popping. But it aligns well with what we currently know: treating your loss of hearing is vital to slowing dementia as you get older.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific studies can be perplexing and contradictory (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The reasons for that are long, varied, and not very pertinent to our topic here. The bottom line is: yet further proof, this research implies untreated loss of hearing can result in or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.
So what does this mean for you? It’s straightforward in many ways: if you’ve noticed any potential symptoms of hearing loss, come see us as soon as you can. And, if you require a hearing aid, you need to absolutely begin using that hearing aid as directed.
When You Use Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Forestall Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls directly into the practice of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The usual reasons why include:
- 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.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. Today, we have lots of variations available which may amaze you. Some styles are so subtle, you might not even notice them.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits properly. If you are suffering from this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
- Voices are difficult to make out. In some instances, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. We can suggest things to do to help make this process easier, like reading along with an audiobook.
Your future cognitive faculties and even your overall health are obviously affected by wearing hearing aids. If you’re struggling with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Working with your hearing expert to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
It’s more significant than ever to treat your hearing loss especially in the light of the new evidence. Hearing aids are protecting your hearing health and your mental health so it’s important to be serious about treatment.
Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two conditions dementia and loss of hearing even associated in the first place? Social isolation is the leading theory but experts are not completely certain. Some people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Another theory relates to sensory stimulation. All senses stimulate activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that losing stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over a period of time.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Supplying a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why taking care of hearing loss can slow dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.
