Treating your hearing loss can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester research group. Over the period of approximately 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were studied by these researchers. The unexpected outcome? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by managing your loss of hearing.
That’s a significant figure.
But is it really that surprising? That’s not to detract from the significance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical correlation between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But it coordinates well with what we already know: treating your hearing loss is vital to slowing dementia as you get older.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific studies can be confusing and contradictory (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? What about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are lots of unrelated reasons for this. Because here’s the bottom line: yet another piece of evidence, this research suggests neglected loss of hearing can result in or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? In certain ways, it’s quite simple: if you’ve observed any potential indications of hearing loss, make an appointment with us as soon as you can. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as advised if you discover you need one.
Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Use Them Regularly
Regrettably, not everyone falls directly into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The usual reasons why include:
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits comfortably. If you are experiencing 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 advertised 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.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. You’d be surprised at the assortment of designs we have available currently. Some styles are so discreet, you may not even notice them.
- It’s difficult to make out voices. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adapt to understanding voices. We can suggest things to do to help make this process easier, like reading along with an audiobook.
Your future cognitive faculties and even your health in general are undoubtedly affected by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re having difficulties with any of the above. At times the solution will take patience and time, but consulting your hearing professional to ensure your hearing aids work for you is just part of the process.
It’s more significant than ever to manage your hearing loss specifically in the light of the new evidence. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Connection Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the actual connection between loss of hearing and dementia? Analysts themselves aren’t completely sure, but some theories are related to social solitude. Some people, when dealing with hearing loss, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses trigger activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that losing stimulation can result in cognitive decline over a period of time.
You hear better with a hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, creating a more robust natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a connection between the two should not be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can slow down dementia by up to 75%.