In the past, hearing aids have had a stigma. Some people simply associate them with old age. The result?
Many people of all ages put themselves in danger of numerous health concerns because they forgo getting hearing aids and decide to live with hearing loss. This is backed up by the numbers: 30 million people in the United States suffering from hearing loss, yet only about 15 percent of that group has ever worn a hearing aid.
Also, more and more young people are addressing hearing loss: a WHO report from 2015 predicted that excessive use of headphones and overly loud concerts and festivals will cause over 1.1 billion teens and young adults to permanently injure their hearing.
Still, advancing technology and shifting perceptions have given hearing aids a new outlook, and soon they’ll be in the same category as eye-glasses – and contact lenses, for that matter.
If You Need Hearing Aids, You Should Use Them, This Is Why
There are a lots of reasons why you should wear hearing aids, some of them are surprising and some are obvious.
Here are several of the most common reasons:
- One of the obvious factors would be that you can hear better
- Social activities will be more enjoyable
- You’ll have the ability to earn more money
- You won’t struggle as much in conversations
- You can decrease tinnitus symptoms
- You can listen to music and television at safe volumes
- You’ll give your brain a rest
Are these reasons sounding beneficial to you? Even somebody with slight hearing damage can get some advantage from using hearing aids.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is linked to mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions such as Alzheimers disease and dementia.
Studies point to a number of different reasons why this may occur, including that the brain becomes overtaxed and overtired because it’s always striving to comprehend sounds. It’s possible that the brain cells shrink and die because they don’t receive enough stimulation, or it could be due to the leading cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems which is social isolation.
Hearing aids can change things for the better by permitting you to hear clearly and comprehend the words and sounds around you. Your brain won’t have to make use of additional resources and will be able to process sounds in a normal way, while you will begin to enjoy conversations and social experiences again because you will have a boost in confidence.
Technological Advances in Hearing Aids
By now it should be obvious why people of any age need to use hearing aids if they need them. Now we’re going to tell you about the how; for example, how hearing aid technology has progressed to the point where they’re no longer your grandparents’ hearing aids.
The bulky, over-the-ear hearing aids are still out there for the people who like them. They also have progressed to the point that they can identify where sound is coming from and can filter out sound adequately. Conversely, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that are virtually unnoticeable, yet pack a lot of technology to fit in with today’s digital world.
Would you like to sync your hearing aid to your smartphone, tablet, tv, or even your car’s navigation system? Most contemporary hearing aids have Bluetooth technology so you’re in luck. There are even higher-end versions keep track of your physical health, stream music, and take calls for you. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anybody who has hearing impairment because just like your smartwatch and smartphone, they’re just created to do more. So now that you’re ready to tackle your hearing loss and begin using a hearing aid, consult with us for an appointment and hearing assessment.