Having to visit the ER can be personally and financially costly. What if you could reduce your chances of falls, accidents, anxiety, depression, and even dementia while also eliminating visits to the ER.
Using your hearing aid can be the difference between living an engaged healthy life and taking lots of trips to the ER, according to some new studies.
The Study
Participants between the ages of 65 and 85 participated in a University of Michigan study. Serious hearing loss was a common problem between them. But out of all of those people who took part, only 45% of them wore their hearing aids regularly.
Other researchers have also shown that hearing aids were worn regularly by only 30% of individuals who had them.
12 fewer, of the 585 individuals who did wear their hearing aid, had Er visits or unplanned hospitalizations.
This may not seem like a very big number. But it’s statistically substantial.
And there’s more. They also discovered that one day fewer, on average, was spent in the hospital for those who used their hearing aids. Their time at the ER was probably reduced because they were more likely to show up for their regular doctor’s appointments.
How Can Hearing Aids Decrease The Need For ER Visits?
First for the obvious one. You would be less likely to require emergency care if you were paying attention to your health.
Also, individuals who wear their hearing aids stay more socially active. This can bring about both a greater motivation to show up for that doctor’s appointment and better access to services and assistance to get to appointments.
And driving is safer when you can hear, so you will be more confident if you are bringing yourself to your appointment.
Additionally, a U.S. study found that those with hearing loss who don’t wear their hearing aid are two times as likely to be depressed. Health problems related to lack of self care is frequently an outcome of depression.
The danger of falling and dementia are, according to numerous studies, also reduced by using your hearing aids. As a person begins to suffer from hearing impairment, the associated region of the brain begins to decline from lack of use. Over time, this can spread through the brain. The disorientation related to falls and symptoms of dementia are often the outcome.
Long hospital stays frequently accompany falls and falling is a leading cause of senior death.
Hearing aids decrease visits to the ER for these reasons amongst others.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many Individuals Avoid?
There’s truly no good reason.
Some people don’t use them because they think that hearing aids make them seem older than they are. 25% of individuals over 65 and 50% of people above the age of 75 have hearing loss and yet this notion of looking old with hearing aids remains. Hearing loss is not unusual. It happens to lots of people. Additionally, hearing loss is increasing even among 20-year-olds thanks to earbuds and the rise in noise pollution.
It’s ironic that when someone is always asking people what they said it actually makes them seem older.
Cost is often noted as a worry. However, hearing aids have become more affordable in just the past few years, and there are ways to finance them.
Some people don’t like how hearing aids sound. In this case, your hearing specialist can help you understand what settings work best in different circumstances. Hearing aids don’t always fit and sound optimal on the first fitting and sometimes require a number of attempts.
If something is preventing you from using your hearing aid, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist.