Hearing loss can really impact how you live, even when it’s minor. The way you communicate with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change substantially. Daily tasks like going to the grocery store can grow more challenging. But it doesn’t need to have this type of negative affect on you. If you use a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a big difference.
Most individuals tend to think of those advantages in a really linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. But how do hearing aids enhance quality of life? Just how far do the benefits of hearing aids go?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
It’s kind of extraordinary, isn’t it, how people can so often come up with top ten lists for anything? I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you woke up this morning. I mean, if you’ve known about your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So, what are the top ten benefits connected with wearing your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. You will have better relationships.
For any relationship to be strong, strong communication is crucial. But when you have neglected hearing loss, communication can be a real challenge. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the full story, and you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation.
You won’t be resentful and feel left out of conversations. So you will have an improvement in your relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues. There is a strong connection between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll have more independence
Shopping at the supermarket or going to a restaurant when you have untreated hearing loss can be an ordeal. When you can’t hear very well, communicating with cashiers and wait staff can be difficult. But with a pair of hearing aids, the entire process quickly becomes a lot easier. You can get around a lot more independently.
Driving will also be less hazardous. That’s because your overall situational awareness will be enhanced by your hearing aids. You will be less anxious about doing things without help when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. Stronger hearing could result in higher pay
Think about this hypothetical scenario: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss half of what’s discussed, you may not do your job adequately. This can result in diminished job opportunities and being passed-up for promotions.
When you’re wearing precisely calibrated hearing aids, you will be less fatigued from struggling to hear, and keeping up with those meetings will be much easier. By doing this you can have an opportunity to boost your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that buzzing or ringing in the ear that most of us have experienced now and then. Tinnitus symptoms will frequently be more intense and more often with hearing loss (tinnitus is sometimes more noticeable with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons as well).
Many people report that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they wear a hearing aid. The louder overall external sound provided by the hearing aid could be, in some cases, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But we will take relief whenever we can, right?
5. Less chance of developing dementia
Hearing impairment and cognitive issues are definitely connected. For instance, untreated hearing loss can seriously raise your risk of developing dementia. There are many hypotheses about why this may be, but the end result is that treating your hearing loss seems to help! That’s why it’s essential to make sure you wear your hearing aids. You could be helping the health of your brain!
6. You can appreciate music again
It’s tough to enjoy music, in its whole entirety, when you suffer from hearing loss. That’s because one wavelength of sound normally goes before the others. For example, you may be unable to pick up low frequencies. As a result, the song you used to enjoy may just sound… strange.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing holes in the music will be filled in, and you can appreciate music again! You’ll hear all of the frequencies and your music won’t sound so garbled. It can be an incredible relief to hear your favorite song again.
7. You’ll get an increase in confidence
Your confidence will be enhanced when you can hear better and have more effective interactions. And who doesn’t want confidence?
We’re not suggesting that you shouldn’t have confidence simply because you have hearing loss. We’re just saying that you may find yourself having a hard time interacting with others, especially if your hearing loss is new.
Those connections can become easier again with hearing aids. And that can lead to a boost in confidence.
8. Your energy will be increased
Your brain is probably working overtime if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. That’s because your brain doesn’t realize your ears aren’t working correctly, so it’s constantly attempting to fill in the audio holes that your hearing impairment has created. That’s hard work. And so, your brain is under persistent strain.
Your brain gets to recharge and unwind when you wear a hearing aid. It won’t need to work as hard. Which means you won’t feel so continuously exhausted and drained. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more perceptive of your environment
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have entirely adjusted. You’re used to being able to hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. Before you look in your rearview mirror, you would normally hear the oncoming sirens.
If your hearing loss is recent, or you aren’t conscious of it, you might presume that some situations are safe when they really aren’t. And that can be a dangerous proposition.
This lost awareness will be recovered by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be wiser and safer.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
The one thing that can be even more challenging than change is personal growth. When you get a hearing aid, you’re acknowledging that something isn’t actually working properly anymore. But you’re bettering yourself as well.
There’s nothing wrong with that! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? So you’re becoming a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. (It’s fine, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam right away
The main benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That one’s obvious. But as you know, there are boatloads of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is by no means complete.
You might have a totally different top ten list. No matter what benefits you look forward to the most, the first step is scheduling an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.