Treating your hearing loss can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study out of a University of Manchester study team. Over the period of about 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 people were studied by these investigators. The surprising outcome? Managing your loss of hearing can slow dementia by as much as 75%.
That is not a small figure.
But still, it’s not really that surprising. That’s not to detract from the importance of the finding, of course, that type of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the fight against dementia is important and eye-popping. But the insight we already have aligns well with these findings: as you get older, it’s vital to treat your hearing loss if you want to delay dementia.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific research can be contradictory and confusing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will that help me live longer?). There are many unrelated reasons for this. Because here’s the bottom line: yet another piece of evidence, this research suggests untreated hearing loss can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? In certain ways, it’s quite straight forward: if you’ve been noticing any possible indications of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us soon. And, if you require a hearing aid, you need to definitely start wearing that hearing aid as advised.
When You Wear Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Help Prevent Dementia
Sadly, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always immediately get into the habit of wearing them. Some of the reasons why are:
- Peoples voices are difficult to make out. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adapt to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can recommend, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this situation go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits very well. If you are suffering from this issue, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- 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.
- 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 styles are created to be very unobtrusive.
Your future cognitive abilities and even your health in general are obviously impacted by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re trying to cope with any of the above. Consulting your hearing specialist to make sure 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, dealing with your hearing loss is more significant than it ever has been. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are defending your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Connection Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So why are these two problems loss of hearing and dementia even connected in the first place? Specialists themselves aren’t completely sure, but some theories are related to social isolation. Some people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. All senses generate activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that losing stimulation can result in cognitive decline over time.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Providing 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 slow dementia by up to 75%.