If You’re a Senior – Doing This Can Lessen Your Chances of Health Problems

There’s a very basic message for anyone suffering from hearing loss: Use hearing aids.

Why? A recent study revealed that people who got hearing aids within three years of being diagnosed with hearing impairment were less likely to experience dementia, depression, anxiety, and hazardous falls than those who didn’t receive hearing aids. While this doesn’t prove hearing aids prevent these health issues, their use is connected with fewer health problems. Results from the study demonstrated that hearing aid users were 18% less likely to develop dementia, 11% less likely to develop depression or anxiety, and 13% less likely to suffer a serious fall.

Refrain From Making Excuses

It’s worthwhile to consider that regarding your health, these figures might appear low but they’re still considerable. Prior research has revealed a correlation between hearing loss and other serious health problems, but this study verified it’s an ongoing, declining problem. But many individuals who have hearing impairment don’t have it treated or ever use hearing aids. Why not? For many, the absence of insurance coverage is a problem. And the expense might still seem too high even with insurance.

Others go through the motions, getting fitted for hearing aids and taking them home only to let them sit in the case because using them seems like too much of an inconvenience. Many individuals don’t view hearing impairment as a major issue because they can turn up the TV volume to solve the problem.

While it may seem as if hearing loss is inevitable as you get older, there’s more to it than that, and turning the volume up is not the right answer.

The Importance of Healthy Hearing

Hearing is obviously a big part of communication. If your failure to communicate causes you to miss a critical instruction by your doctor or guidance by a family member, that’s an issue. As a result, you may not be capable of conveying your symptoms and concerns.

There are also some less obvious problems associated with inadequate communication. When you struggle to hear and keep up with a conversation on the phone, you might lose touch with some of the people in your support system out of frustration or embarrassment. Not being able to hear might even lead to less brain stimulus, and we all recognize that exercising your mind can help combat dementia.

Hearing Aid Advantages

Getting a hearing aid isn’t only about severe, long-term concerns. Your long term wellbeing will certainly improve but hearing aids will immediately enhance your quality of life. You will have a more gratifying social life and feel less isolated if you can hear and engage in conversations. You will reduce your anxiety even further when you are capable of precisely communicating your health issues with your doctor and comprehending his guidance for treatment.

Do I need hearing aids? The answer is yes if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Asking people to repeat what they said constantly
• Background noise makes it difficult to hear when someone is talking to you
• Being so afraid you won’t be able to follow conversations, you avoid social situations
• Turning the volume of the TV up very high

These and perhaps other symptoms could be an indication that it’s time to consider getting a hearing aid. If any of them sound familiar, ask us if a hearing aid may be right for you.