Treating your hearing loss can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester research team. These analysts considered a group of more than 2000 individuals over the course of almost 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The unexpected outcome? Dealing with your loss of hearing can slow down dementia by up to 75%.
That’s a significant figure.
Nevertheless, it’s not all that unexpected. That’s not to take away from the weight of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But it coordinates well with what we already know: as you age, it’s essential to treat your loss of hearing if you want to hold off cognitive decline.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always trust the content presented in scientific studies because it can in many cases be contradictory. The causes for that are lengthy, diverse, and not all that relevant to our discussion here. Because here’s the main point: yet another piece of evidence, this research indicates neglected loss of hearing can lead to or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in many ways: if you’ve observed any potential signs of hearing loss, come see us in the near future. And, if you require a hearing aid, you need to absolutely start wearing that hearing aid as advised.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Forestall Dementia
Sadly, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of wearing them. Some of the reasons why are:
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits very well. If you are having this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
- It’s challenging to understand voices. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adapt to recognizing voices again. We can suggest things to do to help make this process go more smoothly, such as reading along with a book recording.
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem 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.
- You’re worried about how hearing aids appear. You’d be surprised at the range of styles we have available now. Some models are so subtle, you may not even notice them.
Your future cognitive abilities and even your overall health are clearly affected by using hearing aids. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
And in light of these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more important than it ever was. Hearing aids are protecting your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to take that treatment seriously.
Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two health conditions hearing loss and dementia even connected in the first place? Social isolation is the leading theory but experts are not completely certain. When suffering from loss of hearing, some people hide themselves away socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that losing stimulation can result in cognitive decline over time.
Your hearing aid will help you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, creating a more effective natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a relationship between the two should not be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can delay dementia by up to 75%.
