Several studies have proven that loss of hearing can have an impact on your brain. (Just take a look at some of our previous blog posts.) Luckily, it’s also been verified that you can recover some of that cognitive capacity through hearing aids.
This is not saying that hearing aids are somehow going to make you smarter. But there’s some compelling research that suggests cognitive ability can be improved by using hearing aids lowering your risk for anxiety, depression, and dementia.
Your Brain is Responsible For a Substantial Amount of Your Hearing
It’s important to recognize how big a part your brain plays in hearing if you are going to understand the connection between cognition and your ears. It’s the brain’s task to convert sound vibrations into recognizable sound information. So as your hearing diminishes, the parts of your brain that translate those sounds suddenly have a lot less to do.
Combined with other factors (such as social solitude), the alterations in your brain (and hearing) can result in the onset of certain mental health problems. In individuals with neglected hearing loss, it’s not unusual to notice an increase in the risks of depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Your effectively “treating” your hearing loss when you’re using hearing aids. That means:
- You can keep your hearing from getting worse by wearing hearing aids along with regular screening.
- Your brain will stay healthier if it continues working; your brain will be getting a more regular workout in the regions responsible for hearing.
- Social isolation won’t be as likely. You will be more likely to participate with others if you’re able to hear and understand interactions.
Staying Attentive
Hearing aids enhance your brain and your social life and can lessen dementia, depression, and anxiety.
- Boosting awareness: Sometimes, because you’re not aware of your environment, you might have a fall. Decreased hearing ability can significantly reduce your situational awareness. Not only can it be difficult to hear sounds, but it can also be a challenge to figure out what direction sounds are coming from. Without treatment, this can end up causing injury or a fall.
- New technology: Some contemporary hearing aids, when someone falls, can immediately alert emergency services. This can lessen long term injuries and complications although it won’t stop the fall itself.
- Inner ear health: Inner ear damage is not caused by loss of hearing alone. Notwithstanding, sometimes hearing loss and inner ear damage have a mutual cause. In some cases, a hearing aid is part of the treatment program for loss of hearing which can also assist with inner ear damage.
The truth is, you’re more likely to avoid a fall when you’re using hearing aids. A hearing aid keeps you more alert, more perceptive, and more connected, bettering cognitive attributes and physical health at the same time.
Stop Ignoring Your Hearing Aid
We haven’t even mentioned the fact that a hearing aid will also improve your hearing. So when you consider that amplified hearing, include the mental health advantages and physical well-being, it seems like wearing these devices would be an easy choice (not something you need to put your thinking cap on for).
The problem is that many people don’t know they have hearing loss. When your hearing goes away slowly, you might have a difficult time recognizing it. That’s the reason why it’s important to get your hearing checked regularly. A wide variety of other health problems can be aggravated by loss of hearing.
Hearing aids will reduce the chances of physical damage while helping to slow dementia and depression. That’s a stunning combination of benefits that hearing aids offer, and they also help your hearing.