Several studies have verified that hearing loss can have an influence on your brain. (Just have a look at some of our previous blog posts.) The good news is, it’s also been confirmed that you can restore some of that cognitive capacity through hearing aids.
We’re not stating that you will get smarter just by wearing hearing aids. But there’s some compelling research that suggests hearing aids can increase cognitive abilities, lowering your risk for depression, dementia, and anxiety.
You Carry Out a Lot of Hearing With Your Brain
It’s essential to realize how significant a part your brain plays in hearing if you are going to comprehend the link between cognition and your ears. It’s the brain’s job to transform sound vibrations into perceptible sound information. So as your hearing diminishes, the parts of your brain that decipher those sounds suddenly have much less to do.
Changes in your brain (and hearing), coupled with other factors (such as social isolation), can trigger the beginning of mental health issues. Depression, dementia, and anxiety are far more obvious in individuals who have neglected hearing loss.
When you wear hearing aids, you’re effectively “treating” your hearing loss. That means:
- The parts of your brain responsible for hearing will get a more consistent workout; the more your brain performs work, the healthier your brain stays.
- You can keep your hearing from getting worse by wearing hearing aids in conjunction with regular screening.
- Social isolation won’t be as likely. Interactions will be easier to comprehend and follow, so you’ll be more inclined to engage.
Keeping You on Your Toes
Hearing aids can prevent depression, anxiety, and dementia because they stimulate your brain and your social life.
- The health of your inner ear: Loss of hearing in and of itself will not result in inner ear damage. Notwithstanding, sometimes loss of hearing and inner ear damage have a common cause. So treating the one can help you treat the other, and in many circumstances, a hearing aid is a component of that treatment regimen.
- Boosting awareness: At times, you fall because you’re not aware of your environment. Diminished ability to hear can significantly lessen your situational awareness. Identifying which direction sound is coming from can be as challenging as hearing sound in general. Without treatment, this can end up causing injury or a fall.
- Cutting edge technology: Hearing aids have started incorporating novel technology that can actually notify emergency contacts (or emergency services) when someone wearing the hearing aids experiences a fall. This can lessen long lasting complications and injuries though it won’t stop the fall itself.
Ultimately, when you’re using a hearing aid, you’re more likely to steer clear of a fall to start with. A hearing aid enhances your physical health and cognitive ability while carrying out the essential tasks of helping you stay more aware, more focused, and more connected.
Stop Neglecting Your Hearing Aid
We haven’t even yet discussed the fundamental hearing benefits of hearing aids. So it seems like when you consider all of the benefits linked to using hearing aids, it’s a no brainer. (not something you need to put your thinking cap on for).
The problem is that many people don’t know they have hearing loss. It can be challenging to identify loss of hearing when it arises gradually over time. That’s the reason it’s important to get your hearing examined on a regular basis. A wide variety of other health concerns can be exacerbated by loss of hearing.
The right hearing aid can, in part, slow the beginning of depression and dementia, while decreasing the occasions of some physical incidents. Besides helping you hear, hearing aids provide a surprising number of advantages.