Taking care of your loss of hearing can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of analysts out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of about 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were studied by these researchers. The surprising outcome? Treating your hearing loss can slow dementia by up to 75%.
That is not an insignificant figure.
But still, it’s not all all that unexpected. The importance of the finding, of course, is still useful, 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 loss of hearing is essential to slowing cognitive decline as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
Scientific research can be contradictory and confusing (should I eat eggs, should I not eat eggs? What about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are lots of unrelated causes for this. The bottom line is: this new study is yet further proof that implies untreated hearing loss can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this mean? In certain ways, it’s quite straight forward: if you’ve noticed any possible signs of hearing loss, come see us as soon as you can. And you should begin using that hearing aid as directed if you find out you need one.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Prevent Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The often cited reasons why include:
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel 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.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits comfortably. If you are having this problem, please contact us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- Peoples voices are difficult to understand. In some cases, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can recommend, including reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this endeavor easier.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. These days, we have a lot of designs available which may surprise you. Some models are so subtle, you may not even see them.
Clearly wearing your hearing aids is crucial to your health and future cognitive faculties. If you’re struggling with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. At times the answer will take time or patience, but consulting your hearing professional to make sure your hearing aids work for you is a part of the process.
And in light of these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more significant than ever before. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing and your mental health.
Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two problems hearing loss and dementia even associated to begin with? Scientists themselves aren’t exactly sure, but some theories are associated with social solitude. When coping with hearing loss, some people hide themselves away socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes mental decline.
Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, delivering a more effective natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a relationship between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can slow dementia by up to 75%.