Your brain can be benefited by taking care of your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of analysts out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of about 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were looked at by these investigators. The unexpected outcome? Dementia can be slowed by up to 75% by managing your loss of hearing.
That is not an insignificant number.
But is it really that surprising? The significance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, this is an important statistical correlation between the battle against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But it aligns well with what we already know: treating your loss of hearing is essential to slowing dementia as you age.
How am I Impacted by This Research?
You can’t always rely on the content provided in scientific studies because it can often be contradictory. The reasons for that are lengthy, diverse, and not all that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the main point: yet further proof, this research reveals neglected hearing loss can lead to or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this indicate? It’s very simple in some ways: you need to come see us immediately if you’ve observed any loss of hearing. And, if you need a hearing aid, you should definitely begin wearing that hearing aid as directed.
Hearing Aids Assist in Preventing Dementia When You Wear Them Correctly
Unfortunately, not everybody falls directly into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- Voices are difficult to understand. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can recommend, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this situation go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
- How hearing aids look worries you. You’d be amazed at the assortment of models we have available currently. Some models are so discreet, you may not even notice them.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits perfectly. If you are having this issue, please contact us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
Clearly wearing your hearing aids is important to your health and future cognitive abilities. We can help if you’re trying to cope with any of the above. Working with your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to treat your loss of hearing especially taking into consideration the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So what’s the real connection between hearing loss and dementia? Social solitude is the leading theory but scientists are not completely certain. When coping with hearing loss, some people hide themselves away socially. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. Over time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain receives less activity which then results in cognitive decline.
You hear better with a hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more robust natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why taking care of hearing loss can slow dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be surprising that there is a link between the two.