Taking care of 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 group. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 people were looked at by these investigators. The unexpected results? Dementia can be delayed by as much as 75% by managing your hearing loss.
That’s a substantial figure.
But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to take away from the significance of the finding, of course, that type of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the fight against dementia is important and stunning. But it aligns well with what we already know: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing cognitive decline as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always trust the information provided in scientific research because it can often be contradictory. The causes for that are lengthy, diverse, and not really that relevant to our topic here. The main point here is: yet another piece of evidence, this research implies untreated loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this imply? It’s straightforward in some ways: if you’ve observed any potential symptoms of hearing loss, come see us in the near future. And, if you need a hearing aid, you need to definitely start using that hearing aid as directed.
When You Use Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Counter Dementia
Sadly, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always immediately get into the habit of using them. Some of the reasons why are:
- The way hearing aids look concerns you. Presently, we have a lot of variations available which may surprise you. Plus, many hearing aid models are manufactured to be very unobtrusive.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits well. If you are suffering from this issue, please contact us. We can help make it fit better.
- It’s difficult to understand voices. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adjust to hearing voices. There are some things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this process easier.
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
Your future cognitive faculties and even your health in general are obviously impacted by using hearing aids. If you’re struggling with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Consulting your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to deal with your loss of hearing especially taking into consideration the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s important to take that treatment seriously.
Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Link?
So what’s the actual connection between dementia and hearing loss? Analysts themselves aren’t exactly sure, but some theories are associated with social solitude. Many people, when faced with hearing loss, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. Over time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid will help you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more robust natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a link between the two should not be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can slow down dementia by up to 75%.