Hearing loss can create a variety of problems and challenges in your life, but fortunately, hearing aid technology can improve or correct many of these issues. The benefits of hearing aids extend far beyond simply improving the quality of your hearing, making them an important factor for achieving good overall health.
If you are considering hearing aids to remedy hearing loss, contact our doctoral-level audiologists today!
Hearing aids have been shown to improve health and well-being in the following ways:
Hearing aids improve overall quality of life
Wearing hearing aids can greatly improve an individual’s quality of life in a number of ways. Communication comes easier, social situations are more enjoyable, and you start to regain control of your hearing and your life. The following are some common ways hearing aids may improve an individual’s quality of life:
- The ability to work longer and smarter. Studies have shown that earning power and productivity increases since your difficulty has been improved and your hearing doesn’t negatively affect day-to-day activities and assignments like it did when hearing loss was untreated.
- A greater awareness of your environment. Many common sounds that used to go unheard are now present, such as phones ringing, alarms, bells, traffic, sirens, and many other sounds that can help you navigate in the world around you..
- Identifying speech. When you are in social situations, hearing aids help hear the sounds of speech better when in competing background noises. You will be able to hear your partner at the restaurant better, rather than losing the sound of their voice among noise from glasses clinking, plates scraping, and background chatter.
- Emotional stability. Having improved hearing in social situations, private conversations, and work environments is key for engaging the brain in stimulating activities and reducing the risk of depression partly by preventing social isolation.
Hearing aids help reduce psychological deterioration
Hearing loss may lead to social isolation and depression since social events and day-to-day listening can become strenuous. When hearing is compromised, the noises around an individual become muffled or muted, which lessens the stimulation of the brain and requires extra listening effort. If the individual is older, these symptoms may be precursors to decreased processing ability and dementia.
When an individual suffers from hearing loss, their brain has to work overtime to process the sounds around them and decipher their meaning. This increased demand for hearing tends to put additional strain on certain areas of the brain not designed for processing sound or speech. This long-term compensation for untreated hearing loss by the brain puts an individual at risk for permanent changes to the brain processing ability.
Hearing aids provide individuals with the ability to hear simple and complex sounds around them, as well as the ability to engage in social situations which can increase brain stimulation. Studies show cognitive decline happened at a much faster rate in older, healthy individuals with untreated hearing loss than individuals who used hearing aids.
Hearing aids improve social life
Losing the ability to hear your loved ones, peers, and coworkers can take an immense toll on an individual’s social life. The constant need for repetition in conversation, asking for clarification, and inability to hear others in the room can make social situations nearly impossible to partake in. Individuals suffering from hearing loss may become reclusive, turning down social events to avoid embarrassing situations resulting from their hearing loss.
Investing in hearing aids can dramatically change a person’s ability to hear people and participate in regular social events. When the ability to hear is restored, the desire to socialize increases because there isn’t a constant need to ask for repetition or clarification.
The symptoms of hearing loss can greatly impact your quality of life. It’s time to take action and change your life for the better. Associated Audiologists has doctoral-level audiologists who can help. Contact us today to talk about your treatment options and how we can treat your hearing loss.
