Treating your hearing loss can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of analysts from the University of Manchester. These analysts examined a team of around 2000 individuals over the course of approximately twenty years (1996 to 2014). The outstanding results? Dementia can be delayed by as much as 75% by managing your hearing loss.
That’s a substantial number.
And yet, it’s not really all that unexpected. That’s not to take away from the weight of the finding, of course, that sort of statistical relationship between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is noteworthy and shocking. But it coordinates well with what we already know: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing dementia as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific studies can be inconsistent and perplexing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are lots of unrelated causes for this. Because here’s the bottom line: this new study is yet further proof that reveals untreated hearing loss can result in or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.
So what does this mean for you? In many ways, it’s quite straight forward: if you’ve observed any probable signs of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us soon. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should absolutely begin wearing that hearing aid as advised.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Counter Dementia
Unfortunately, not everybody falls right into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel as if it fits perfectly. If you are experiencing this issue, please contact us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- Peoples voices are difficult to make out. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adapt to recognizing voices again. We can recommend things to do to help make this process easier, like reading along with a book recording.
- 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.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. You’d be amazed at the wide variety of models we have available nowadays. Additionally, many hearing aid models are manufactured to be very discreet.
Your future mental abilities and even your overall health are clearly affected by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re having difficulties with any of the above. Working with your hearing expert to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to deal with your hearing loss specifically in the light of the new evidence. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s vital to take that treatment seriously.
Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two health conditions dementia and hearing loss even associated in the first place? Social isolation is the prominent theory but experts are not completely certain. Many people, when faced with hearing loss, become less socially involved. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain receives less activity which then leads to cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid will help you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, supplying a more effective natural defense 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 connection between the two.