Your brain can be benefited by dealing with your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of analysts out of the University of Manchester. These analysts considered a team of around 2000 individuals over a time period of approximately 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The outstanding findings? Dementia can be delayed by as much as 75% by dealing with loss of hearing.
That’s a substantial figure.
But is it really that surprising? The significance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, that type of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is noteworthy and stunning. But the insight we already have aligns well with these findings: as you age, it’s vital to treat your hearing loss if you want to hold off dementia.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific research can be confusing and inconsistent (should I eat eggs, should I not eat eggs? What about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The reasons for that are lengthy, varied, and not very relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the bottom line: this new research is yet another piece of evidence that suggests neglected hearing loss can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? It’s very simple in many ways: you need to set up an appointment with us immediately if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you require a hearing aid, you need to absolutely start using that hearing aid as directed.
When You Use Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Prevent Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the habit of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- How hearing aids look worries you. You’d be amazed at the variety of designs we have available nowadays. Also, many hearing aid styles are designed to be very discreet.
- Voices are difficult to understand. In many instances, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can suggest, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this process easier.
- The way that the hearing aid is supposed 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 isn’t feeling like it fits very well. If you are having this problem, please give us a call. We can help make it fit better.
Your future mental faculties and even your overall health are clearly affected by using hearing aids. If you’re having difficulties with any of the above, get in touch with us for an adjustment. Sometimes the solution will take patience and time, but working with your hearing professional to ensure your hearing aids work for you is a part of the process.
It’s more important than ever to treat your loss of hearing specifically in the light of the new evidence. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are protecting your hearing and your mental health.
Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Link?
So what’s the actual connection between dementia and hearing loss? Social solitude is the leading theory but experts are not 100% sure. When coping with hearing loss, some people isolate themselves socially. Yet another theory has to do with sensory stimulation. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that the loss of stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over a period of time.
You hear better with a hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more robust natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why dealing with hearing loss can slow dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a connection between the two.