In the past, hearing aids have carried a stigma. Some people just link them with getting old. The result?
Many people, both young and old, go without hearing aids and suffer unnecessarily from hearing loss, which is actually linked to several health concerns. This is reinforced by the numbers: 30 million individuals in the United States dealing with hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that group has ever worn a hearing aid.
Also, an increasing number of young people are addressing hearing loss: a WHO report from 2015 forecasted that excessive use of headphones and overly loud concerts and festivals will cause over 1.1 billion teens and young adults to permanently damage their hearing.
However, changing attitudes and advanced technology have started to frame hearing aids in a new light, and people are starting to look at them in a similar way they view eye-glasses.
Why You Should Wear Hearing Aids
There are a lots of reasons why you should wear hearing aids, some of them are unexpected and some are obvious.
Here are a few of the most common reasons:
- You can lessen tinnitus symptoms
- You won’t struggle as much in conversations
- You’ll increase your earning power
- Social activities will be more enjoyable
- You’ll give your brain a rest
- You won’t need to turn the music or TV up
- One of the obvious factors is that you will be able to hear better
Are these reasons sounding beneficial to you? Some advantage can be gained by wearing hearing aids even for individuals with minor hearing loss.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is linked to cognitive decline, mental health issues, and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies point to several different reasons why this might happen, including that the brain gets overtaxed and overtired because it’s always striving to comprehend sounds. It could be that the brain cells don’t get enough activation so they shrink and die, or it may be because of the leading cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems which is social isolation.
By letting you hear words and sounds around you more clearly, hearing aids can help alleviate these problems. Your brain won’t need to use additional resources and will be able to process sounds in a normal 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 anybody with hearing loss, old or young, to wear hearing aids. Now we’re going to tell you about the how; as in, how hearing aid technology has advanced to the point where they’re nothing like your grandparents’ hearing aids.
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 identify where sound is originating from and can filter out sound adequately. However, there are new and improved versions of hearing aids that are virtually unnoticeable, yet pack quite a lot of technology to work with today’s digital world.
Is connecting your hearing aids up with your Bluetooth devices like your television, cellphone, or tablet something you might want to do? Most modern hearing aids have Bluetooth technology so you’re in luck. There are even higher-end models keep track of your physical health, stream music, and take calls for you. Hearing aids today are designed to do more – much like your smartwatch and smartphone, smart hearing aids will come to be a must-have accessory for anybody suffering from hearing impairment. So now that you’re ready to tackle your hearing loss and begin wearing a hearing aid, consult with us for an appointment and hearing assessment.
