Your brain can be helped by taking care of your loss of hearing. At least, that’s according to a new study out of a University of Manchester research group. These analysts examined a group of more than 2000 individuals over a time period of just about 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The outstanding findings? Managing your loss of hearing can slow down dementia by as much as 75%.
That’s a significant figure.
And yet, it’s not really all that unexpected. That’s not to detract from the weight of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have coordinates with these findings: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing cognitive decline as you get older.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
Scientific research can be contradictory and perplexing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? How about wine? Will that help me live longer?). The causes for that are long, varied, and not really that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the bottom line: this new research is yet another piece of evidence that suggests untreated hearing loss can result in or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So what does this mean for you? It’s simple in many ways: you need to come see us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And, if you need a hearing aid, you need to absolutely start wearing that hearing aid as advised.
When You Use Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Forestall Dementia
Sadly, not everybody falls right into the habit of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- It’s challenging to understand voices. In some 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 process go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem 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.
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel as if it fits properly. If you are experiencing this problem, please give us a call. We can help make it fit better.
- You’re worried about how hearing aids appear. You’d be amazed at the assortment of models we have available now. Some styles are so discreet, you may not even notice them.
Obviously using your hearing aids is crucial to your health and future mental faculties. We can help if you’re having difficulties with any of the above. Working with your hearing expert to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it demands time and patience.
It’s more important than ever to take care of your hearing loss specifically taking into consideration the new evidence. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s vital to take that treatment seriously.
What’s The Link Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the actual connection between hearing loss and dementia? Social solitude is the prominent theory but scientists are not 100% sure. Some people, when dealing with hearing loss, become less socially involved. A different theory relates to sensory stimulation. All senses stimulate activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that the loss of stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over time.
Your hearing aid will help you hear better. Offering 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 as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a connection between the two.