Your brain can be benefited by taking care of your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study out of a University of Manchester study group. These analysts examined a group of more than 2000 participants over the course of nearly 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The striking outcome? Dementia can be slowed by up to 75% by dealing with loss of hearing.
That’s a substantial figure.
But is it actually that surprising? The importance of the finding, of course, is still useful, this is an important statistical connection between the struggle against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But the insight we already have aligns well with these findings: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing dementia as you get older.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific studies can be contradictory and confusing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? What about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The causes for that are long, diverse, and not very pertinent to our discussion here. Because here’s the bottom line: this new research is yet further proof that implies untreated loss of hearing can result in or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? It’s straightforward in several ways: you should come see us as soon as possible if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as advised if you discover you require one.
Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Use Them Correctly
Unfortunately, not everybody falls right into the habit of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The usual reasons why include:
- It’s difficult to make out voices. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are things we can recommend, including reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this endeavor go more smoothly.
- How hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be surprised at the assortment of models we have available nowadays. Additionally, many hearing aid models are created to be very unobtrusive.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits comfortably. If you are having this problem, please get in touch with us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- The way that the hearing aid is supposed to work, doesn’t appear 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.
Obviously wearing your hearing aids is important to your health and future mental abilities. If you’re struggling with any of the above, get in touch with us for an adjustment. Consulting your hearing expert to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
It’s more significant than ever to deal with your hearing loss especially taking into consideration the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s essential to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Connection Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So why are these two health conditions hearing loss and dementia even linked in the first place? Scientists themselves aren’t completely sure, but some theories are associated with social solitude. Many people, when dealing with hearing loss, become less socially active. Yet another theory concerns sensory stimulation. All senses generate activity in the brain, and some researchers theorize that losing stimulation can cause cognitive decline over a period of time.
Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. Delivering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why a connection between the two should not be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can delay dementia by as much as 75%.