Treating your loss of hearing can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of researchers from the University of Manchester. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were looked at by these researchers. The attention-getting conclusions? Dementia can be slowed by up to 75% by managing your hearing loss.
That’s a significant figure.
But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to take away from the significance of the finding, of course, that sort of statistical relationship between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is noteworthy and eye-popping. But it coordinates well with what we already know: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your loss of hearing if you want to slow down cognitive decline.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always believe the content provided in scientific studies because it can commonly be contradictory. The reasons for that are long, varied, and not really that pertinent to our topic here. Because here’s the main point: yet further proof, this research reveals neglected hearing loss can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this imply? It’s simple in several ways: you need to come see us right away if you’ve noticed any hearing loss. And you really should begin using that hearing aid as directed if you discover you require one.
When You Use Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Forestall Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the habit of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adapt to understanding voices. There are some things we can recommend, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this endeavor go more smoothly.
- You’re worried about how hearing aids appear. You’d be amazed at the variety of styles we have available nowadays. Also, many hearing aid models are created to be very unobtrusive.
- 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.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits comfortably. If you are suffering from this issue, please get in touch with us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
Your future mental 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. Quite often the solution will take patience and time, but consulting your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids work for you is a part of the process.
And taking into consideration these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more important than ever. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are protecting your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Link Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the actual link between dementia and loss of hearing? Experts themselves aren’t completely certain, but some theories are related to social solitude. Many people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some researchers theorize that the loss of stimulation can result in cognitive decline over time.
You hear better with a hearing aid. Providing a natural defense for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why a relationship between the two should not be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can slow down dementia by as much as 75%.