Treating your hearing loss can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of researchers from the University of Manchester. Over the period of about 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were studied by these investigators. The unexpected outcome? Treating your loss of hearing can slow dementia by up to 75%.
That’s a considerable number.
But still, it’s not really that unexpected. That’s not to take away from the importance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the battle against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have aligns well with these findings: as you age, it’s essential to treat your loss of hearing if you want to slow down dementia.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always believe the content provided in scientific studies because it can commonly be contradictory. There are many unrelated causes for this. The main point here is: this new study is yet further proof that reveals untreated loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this imply? It’s simple in several ways: you need to set up an appointment with us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you require a hearing aid, you should definitely start wearing that hearing aid as directed.
When You Wear Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Help Counter Dementia
Unfortunately, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always immediately get into the habit of wearing them. The often cited reasons why include:
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits very well. If you are having this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
- It’s hard to make out voices. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adjust to understanding voices. There are some things we can recommend, including reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this process easier.
- The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t seem to be the way it’s currently working. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
- You’re anxious about how hearing aids appear. Nowadays, we have a lot of types available which might amaze you. Some styles are so subtle, you might not even see them.
Obviously wearing your hearing aids is essential to your health and future mental abilities. If you’re having difficulties with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Consulting your hearing expert to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.
And taking into consideration these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more important than ever. Hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to take that treatment seriously.
Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Link?
So what’s the real connection between hearing loss and dementia? Social isolation is the leading theory but experts are not completely certain. Some people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Another theory relates to sensory stimulation. With time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain receives less activity which then causes mental decline.
You hear better with a hearing aid. Delivering a natural defense for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why dealing with hearing loss can delay dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be surprising that there is a connection between the two.