Your brain can be helped by dealing with your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of analysts out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were evaluated by these scientists. The surprising outcome? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by dealing with loss of hearing.
That’s a significant figure.
But is it actually that surprising? The significance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, this is an important statistical correlation between the battle against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But it coordinates well with what we already know: treating your hearing loss is imperative to slowing dementia as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always believe the information presented in scientific studies because it can in many cases be inconsistent. The causes for that are lengthy, varied, and not very relevant to our topic here. The main point here is: yet another piece of evidence, this research indicates neglected loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in many ways: if you’ve been noticing any potential symptoms of hearing loss, come see us in the near future. And, if you need a hearing aid, you need to absolutely start wearing that hearing aid as directed.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Forestall Dementia
Sadly, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of wearing them. Some of the reasons why are:
- Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adapt to hearing voices. We can suggest things to do to help make this endeavor easier, like reading along with a book recording.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits perfectly. If you are having this problem, please contact us. We can help make it fit better.
- 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.
- You’re concerned about how hearing aids appear. Today, we have lots of variations available which may surprise you. Some models are so discreet, you might not even see them.
Your future cognitive faculties and even your overall health are clearly impacted 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 certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
And taking into consideration these new findings, dealing with your hearing loss is more significant than ever before. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s important to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So what’s the actual link between loss of hearing and dementia? Social isolation is the prominent theory but scientists are not completely certain. Many people, when faced with hearing loss, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes cognitive decline.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Offering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why dealing with hearing loss can delay dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.