Several studies have confirmed that hearing loss can have an impact on your brain. (Just look at some of our previous blog posts.) Fortunately, it’s also been proven that you can regain some of that cognitive capacity through hearing aids.
This is not to imply that hearing aids are in some way going to make you smarter. But there’s some compelling research that suggests cognitive ability can be increased by using hearing aids lowering your risk for depression, dementia, and anxiety.
You Do a Lot of Hearing With Your Brain
To understand the link between your ears and cognition, it’s important to realize that a considerable portion of your hearing actually takes place in your brain. It’s the brain’s job to transform sound vibrations into recognizable sound information. So as your hearing diminishes, the regions of your brain that interpret those sounds suddenly have a lot less to do.
Alterations in your brain (and hearing), coupled with other factors (like social alienation), can trigger the onset of mental health problems. In people with neglected hearing loss, it’s not unusual to observe an increase in the dangers for depression, anxiety, and dementia.
When you use hearing aids, you’re essentially “treating” your hearing loss. That means:
- You can stop your hearing from becoming worse by wearing hearing aids alongside regular monitoring.
- Your brain stays healthier if it continues working; your brain will be getting a more consistent workout in the parts responsible for hearing.
- Social alienation will be less likely. You will be more likely to engage with people if you can hear and understand interactions.
Keeping You on Your Toes
Hearing aids can lessen depression, anxiety, and dementia because they stimulate your brain and your social life.
- Inner ear health: Inner ear injury is not caused by hearing loss alone. But there is often a common cause for both loss of hearing and inner ear damage. In some cases, a hearing aid is part of the treatment program for hearing loss which can also help inner ear damage.
- Increasing awareness: Occasionally, because you’re not aware of your environment, you could have a fall. Diminished hearing ability can drastically lessen your situational awareness. Figuring out what direction sound is coming from can be as difficult as hearing sound in general. A fall or other injury can be the consequence.
- New technology: Some modern hearing aids, when someone falls, can instantly alert emergency services. This may not stop the fall to begin with, but it can prevent long-term injuries or complications caused by the fall.
Truthfully, you have a higher chance of avoiding a fall when you’re wearing hearing aids. A hearing aid boosts your physical health and your cognitive ability while performing the essential functions of keeping you more mindful, more focused, and more connected.
Stop Ignoring Your Hearing Aid
We haven’t even mentioned the fact that a hearing aid will also improve your hearing. So it seems as if when you factor in all of the benefits connected to using hearing aids, it’s a no brainer. (not something you need to overthink).
The problem is that many people don’t know they have hearing loss. When your hearing disappears slowly, you may have a hard time recognizing it. That’s the reason why having a regular hearing exam is necessary. A wide variety of other health issues can be made worse by loss of hearing.
The right hearing aid can, in part, slow the beginning of depression and dementia, while reducing the occurrences of some physical incidents. Besides helping your hearing, hearing aids offer a remarkable number of advantages.