Taking care of your hearing loss can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of researchers out of the University of Manchester. These researchers looked at a group of around 2000 individuals over a time period of approximately 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The attention-getting conclusions? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by managing your hearing loss.
That’s a substantial figure.
Nevertheless, it’s not all that unexpected. The importance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, this is an important statistical connection between the battle against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But the insight we already have coordinates with these findings: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your loss of hearing if you want to hold off cognitive decline.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always trust the information presented in scientific research because it can in many cases be inconsistent. The causes for that are long, diverse, and not all that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the main point: yet further proof, this research implies untreated loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this indicate? In many ways, it’s pretty straight forward: if you’ve observed any probable indications of hearing loss, schedule an appointment with us in the near future. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely begin wearing that hearing aid as advised.
When You Use Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Prevent Dementia
Unfortunately, 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 hearing aid doesn’t feel as if it fits perfectly. If you are suffering from this issue, please get in touch with us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- Peoples voices are difficult to make out. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adjust to hearing voices again. There are some things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can make this endeavor go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works the way it should. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
- How hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be amazed at the assortment of models we have available nowadays. Also, many hearing aid models are created to be very discreet.
Your future mental abilities and even your health as a whole are clearly affected by wearing hearing aids. If you’re trying to cope with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Consulting your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to manage your hearing loss specifically in the light of the new evidence. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are protecting your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Link Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So why are these two conditions dementia and hearing loss even associated in the first place? Social solitude is the prominent theory but experts are not 100% sure. Many people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. 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 mental decline.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, providing a more effective natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why treating hearing loss can slow dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be surprising that there is a connection between the two.