There’s Not as Much Stigma About Wearing Hearing Aids Today

Man feeling more confident about wearing his hearing aids at work now that stigma around hearing aids is waning.

Over the years, hearing aids have carried a stigma. If you use one, people might think of you as old. The effect?

Lots of people of all ages put themselves in danger of numerous health concerns because they decide not to get hearing aids and decide to deal with hearing loss. The numbers reinforce this: 30 million people in the United States dealing with hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that group has ever used a hearing aid.

In addition, younger people are suffering from hearing loss in higher numbers than ever before: a WHO report from 2015 predicted that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults would injure their hearing permanently due to over the top use of headphones and extremely loud music festivals.

Still, shifting attitudes and advanced technology have given hearing aids a new outlook, and soon they’ll be in the same class as eye-glasses – and contact lenses, for that matter.

Why Should You Wear Hearing Aids

There are a lots of reasons why you should wear hearing aids, some of them are unexpected and some are obvious.

Some of the most common reasons are as follows:

  • You won’t struggle as much having conversations
  • You can enjoy social activities and settings again
  • You’ll raise your earning power
  • You can listen to television and music at normal volumes
  • You’ll be able to hear better (As we said, there were some obvious ones on the list)
  • You’re brain won’t need to work as hard
  • You can reduce tinnitus symptoms

Are these reasons sounding beneficial to you? Some advantage can be gained by wearing hearing aids even for people with mild hearing loss.

What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is associated with mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions like Alzheimers disease and dementia.

This may occur for a few different reasons based on research, this includes the overworking of the brain as it struggles to understand sounds that it hears. It may be that the brain cells don’t receive enough activation so they shrink and die, or it may be associated with social isolation, which is a leading cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

By allowing you to hear words and sounds near you more clearly, hearing aids can help alleviate these problems. Your brain can then process the sounds as it typically would without having to use extra resources, while you’ll gain the confidence and ability to find enjoyment in social experiences and conversations again.

Technological Developments in Hearing Aids

By now it should be obvious why people of any age need to use hearing aids if they require them. Now it’s time to discover how hearing aids have progressed in the last few years.

If really want one of those big over the ear hearing aids, you can still purchase one. They perform their function effectively and have progressed to the point where the majority of them have no problem filtering out background noises such as wind or determining which direction sound is coming from. Conversely, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that have sophisticated technology which makes it effortless for them to fit in with today’s digital environment and are almost unnoticeable.

Do you want to sync your hearing aid to your smartphone, tablet, tv, or even your car’s navigation system? Then you’re in luck since most modern hearing aids come equipped with Bluetooth technology that allows them to connect with a variety of devices. There are even higher-end models that can automatically take and make calls for you, keep track of your physical activity, and stream music. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anybody who has hearing loss because much like your smartwatch and smartphone, they’re just made to do more. Are you ready to face hearing loss and buy yourself a hearing aid? Consult with us to find out what type of hearing aid will work best for you.

The content of this blog is the intellectual property of MedPB.com and is reprinted here with permission.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive a personalized free hearing test and hearing loss consultation, call today to set up an appointment.