Having to visit the ER can be financially and personally costly. What if you could lessen ER trips and substantially decrease your risk of anxiety, depression, and even dementia.
Emerging studies make the case that, for those with serious hearing loss, wearing their hearing aid could be the difference between staying connected and healthy and ending up spending many nights in the emergency room.
The Study
Participants between the ages of 65 and 85 participated in a University of Michigan study. Serious hearing loss was a common condition between them. But only 45% of the participants wore their hearing aids on a regular basis.
Other studies have also revealed that hearing aids were worn regularly by only 30% of individuals who had them.
12 fewer, of the 585 people who did wear their hearing aid, had Er visits or unplanned hospitalizations.
This may seem like a moderate number. But statistically, this is substantial.
And there’s more. They also discovered that those who wore their hearing aids spend, on average, one fewer day in the hospital. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which most likely reduced their time in ER.
How Can ER Visits be Reduced by Wearing Hearing Aids?
First for the obvious one. If a person is keeping up with their health, they’re more likely to stay out of ER.
Also, individuals who use their hearing aids remain more socially involved. When a person is socially connected they are normally more committed to keeping keep their appointments and also have more help from friends and family getting to the doctor.
For those driving themselves, it means that they can drive more safely with less anxiety about what they’re not hearing.
One study conducted in the U.S. discovered that depression is twice as likely in people who don’t wear their hearing aid. Health problems related to lack of self care is commonly an outcome of depression.
Thirdly, numerous studies have found that using your hearing aid can reduce the risk of falling and cognitive decline. The part of the brain that’s used for hearing will start to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. The rest of the brain is ultimately impacted. As this occurs, people commonly experience dementia symptoms as well as the disorientation and lack of balance connected with falls.
Long hospital stays frequently accompany falls and falling is a major cause of senior death.
These are only a few of the reasons that hearing aids help minimize trips to the ER.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many People Neglect?
There’s really no good reason.
Fear of appearing old is one leading reason why some people don’t use their hearing aids. This notion remains in spite of the fact that about 25% of individuals over 65 have significant hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and above have it. Hearing loss is not uncommon. It happens to many people. Additionally, hearing loss is increasing even with 20-year-olds because of earbuds and the rise in noise pollution.
Ironically, frequently asking people to repeat what they said often makes a person seem a lot older than they are.
Price is frequently mentioned as a concern. However, hearing aids have become more affordable in just the past few years, and there are ways to finance them.
Finally, some don’t like the hearing experience with their hearing aid. This can often be fixed by simply consulting your hearing specialist to find out how to more effectively use your hearing aid in various settings. Hearing aids can require several fittings before they are just right.
Schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more secure wearing your hearing aids.