Your brain can be helped by treating your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of researchers out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were studied by these investigators. The outstanding conclusions? Dealing with your hearing loss can delay dementia by as much as 75%.
That’s a considerable number.
And yet, it’s not really all that surprising. The importance of the finding, of course, is still useful, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have coordinates with these findings: treating your loss of hearing is vital to slowing dementia as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific studies can be contradictory and perplexing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? What about wine? Will that help me live longer?). There are countless unrelated causes for this. The bottom line is: yet another piece of evidence, this research suggests neglected loss of hearing can result in or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this mean for you? It’s very simple in some ways: you need to come see us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely begin using that hearing aid as advised.
When You Wear Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Help Forestall Dementia
Unfortunately, when most people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of wearing them. The often cited reasons why include:
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works as advertised. 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 well. If you are suffering from this issue, please let us know. We can help make it fit better.
- Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adapt to understanding voices. There are some things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can make this endeavor go more smoothly.
- You’re worried about how hearing aids look. Today, we have lots of designs available which might amaze you. In addition, many hearing aid models are created to be very unobtrusive.
Clearly wearing your hearing aids is important to your health and future mental faculties. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.
And in light of these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more important than it ever has been. Hearing aids are protecting your hearing health and your mental health so it’s important to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So why are these two problems dementia and loss of hearing even connected in the first place? Social isolation is the leading theory but scientists are not completely certain. Some people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. A different theory refers to sensory stimulation. All senses stimulate activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that losing stimulation can cause cognitive decline over time.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Delivering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why dealing with hearing loss can delay dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.