Treating your loss of hearing can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study out of a University of Manchester research team. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were looked at by these scientists. The outstanding conclusions? Managing your loss of hearing can slow dementia by up to 75%.
That is not an insignificant number.
But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to detract from the significance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But it aligns well with what we already know: treating your hearing loss is imperative to slowing dementia as you age.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always rely on the content presented in scientific studies because it can in many cases be contradictory. The causes for that are long, varied, and not all that pertinent to our topic here. The bottom line is: yet another piece of evidence, this research indicates neglected loss of hearing can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this imply? It’s simple in many ways: if you’ve noticed any possible symptoms of hearing loss, make an appointment with us as soon as you can. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as directed if you discover you require one.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Prevent Dementia
Sadly, when most people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always immediately get into the habit of using them. The usual reasons why include:
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. You’d be surprised at the range of models we have available currently. Also, many hearing aid models are created to be very unobtrusive.
- It’s hard to understand voices. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adjust to hearing voices. We can recommend things to do to help make this endeavor easier, like reading along with an audiobook.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits very well. If you are suffering from this problem, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
Your future mental faculties and even your health in general are clearly affected by using hearing aids. If you’re struggling with any of the above, get in touch with us for an adjustment. Working with your hearing professional to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
And in light of these new findings, treating your hearing loss is more important than it ever was. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s vital to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Connection Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the actual link between dementia and hearing loss? Experts themselves aren’t exactly certain, but some theories are related to social solitude. Many people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. All senses generate activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that losing stimulation can cause cognitive decline over time.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Providing a natural defense for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why a link between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can delay dementia by up to 75%.