Your brain can be helped by dealing with your loss of hearing. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester study team. Over the period of about 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were examined by these investigators. The attention-getting findings? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by dealing with loss of hearing.
That is not a small number.
Nevertheless, it’s not really all that surprising. That’s not to take away from the significance of the finding, of course, that sort of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the struggle against dementia is noteworthy and eye-popping. But it coordinates well with what we already know: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing cognitive decline as you age.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific research can be confusing and contradictory (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). The causes for that are long, diverse, and not all that relevant to our topic here. The main point here is: this new study is yet further proof that reveals neglected loss of hearing can result in or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? In certain ways, it’s fairly simple: if you’ve observed any potential symptoms of hearing loss, come see us soon. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as advised if you discover you require one.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Forestall Dementia
Regrettably, not everyone falls right into the practice of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The often cited reasons why include:
- Peoples voices are difficult to make out. In some instances, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are things we can suggest, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this process easier.
- The way that the hearing aid is supposed 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.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel as if 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.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids look. Nowadays, we have a lot of styles available which may surprise you. Additionally, many hearing aid styles are created to be very discreet.
Your future cognitive faculties and even your health in general are obviously impacted by wearing hearing aids. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.
It’s more significant than ever to treat your loss of hearing especially taking into consideration the new evidence. Hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to take that treatment seriously.
What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So what’s the actual link between dementia and hearing loss? Scientists themselves aren’t completely certain, but some theories are associated with social solitude. When suffering from hearing loss, some people hide themselves away socially. Sensory stimulation is the basis 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.
Your hearing aid helps you hear better. Delivering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why taking care of hearing loss can delay dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be surprising that there is a link between the two.