Over the years, hearing aids have had a stigma. If you wear one, people may think of you as aging. The consequences?
Countless people of every age put themselves in danger of a number of health problems because they forgo getting hearing aids and decide to deal with hearing loss. This is reinforced by the numbers: 30 million individuals in the United States dealing with hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that population has ever used a hearing aid.
What’s more, the youth are suffering from hearing loss in higher numbers than ever before: a WHO report from 2015 predicted that too much use of headphones and overly loud music shows and festivals will cause over 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults to permanently damage their hearing.
Still, advancing technology and shifting perceptions have given hearing aids a new outlook, and soon they’ll be in the same category as eye-glasses – and contact lenses, for that matter.
If You Need Hearing Aids, You Should Use Them, Here’s Why
There are a lots of reasons why you should wear hearing aids, some of them are unexpected and some are obvious.
Here are some of the most common reasons:
- You’ll give your brain a break
- You’re able to hear better (As noted, there were some obvious ones on this list)
- You won’t struggle as much having conversations
- You can listen to music and television at safe volumes
- You can enjoy social activities and situations again
- You’ll boost your earning power
- You can minimize tinnitus symptoms
Do these seem like good reasons to you? Even someone with mild hearing loss can find some benefit from wearing hearing aids.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is linked to mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This might occur for a few different reasons according to research, this includes the overworking of the brain as it struggles to understand sounds that it hears. It could be that the brain cells don’t get enough stimulation so they shrink and die, or it may be because of the leading cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues which is social isolation.
Hearing aids can change things for the better by letting you hear clearly and understand the words and sounds around you. Your brain won’t need to use extra resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a standard way, while you’ll gain the confidence and ability to find enjoyment in social activities and conversations again.
Technological Advances in Hearing Aids
We told you why it’s essential for anyone with hearing loss, young or old, to wear hearing aids. Now it’s time to find out how hearing aids have progressed in the last few years.
The bulky, over-the-ear hearing aids are still available for the people who like them. They also have progressed to the point that they can determine where sound is originating from and can filter out sound adequately. However, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that have advanced technology which makes it easy for them to work with today’s digital environment and are almost invisible.
Would you like to sync your hearing aid to your cellphone, tablet, television, or even your car’s GPS? Then you’re in luck since many modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth technology that enables them to sync with a variety of devices. There are even higher-end versions that can automatically take and make telephone calls for you, keep track of your physical activity, and stream music. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anybody who has hearing loss because like your smartphone or smartwatch, they’re simply created to do more. So now that you are ready to manage your hearing loss and start wearing a hearing aid, get in touch with us for an appointment and hearing assessment.
