There Are Unexpected Side Benefits to Hearing Aids

An estimated 28 million individuals could be helped by using hearing aids. Needless to say, when we talk about data like that, we normally mean that those 28 million individuals would hear the world a little better if they had some help (like hearing aids). But there are also certain other, somewhat unexpected health benefits that you can start to enjoy thanks to your hearing aids.

As it turns out, something as simple as wearing your hearing aids could be good for your physical and mental health. These tiny devices can help stop (or forestall) everything from injury from a fall to depression. In more ways than one, your hearing aids can help you stay on your feet.

Hearing Aids And Mental Health Benefits

Modern medical studies have solidly established a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. Mental illnesses like dementia, cognitive decline, anxiety, and depression, according to current thinking, can be induced by hearing loss as a consequence of a combination of mental, physical and social factors.

So the mental health benefits of hearing aids shouldn't be all that unexpected.

Decreasing Your Chances of Dementia

Your risk of dementia can be lowered, based on one study, by nearly 20%. And all you have to do to take advantage of this awesome benefit is remember to wear your hearing every day.

Other research has suggested that wearing your hearing aids regularly can slow the onset of dementia by as many as two years. This is really inspiring and with more research done to duplicate and clarify these figures, we can come a long way in the fight against cognitive decline and illness.

Reduce Depression And Anxiety

Depression and anxiety are not symptoms that are unique to people who suffer from hearing loss. But individuals who suffer from hearing loss have been shown to have a higher risk of anxiety and depression over time.

When you use hearing aids, you are likely to stay more tuned in mentally and engaged socially. If those were contributing factors to depression and anxiety, they can help.

You'll be Less Lonely

While it may not seem as dire or important as dementia, isolation can be a big problem for individuals with untreated hearing loss, caused by and exacerbating a sense of social isolation. Your overall mood can be considerably impacted by social separation. So it can be a huge advantage if your hearing aids can help you continue to be socially active.

And this is an excellent reason why, for example, your hearing aid can help protect against conditions like depression. All of these health issues, to some extent, are in some manner connected.

The Physical Benefits of Hearing Aids

There’s some evidence which suggests that as hearing loss symptoms become more obvious, your risk of stroke escalates. But this research is in preliminary phases. It's a little easier to recognize the more obvious physical advantage of hearing aids: you won't fall as often.

There are a couple of reasons for this:

• Fall detection: At times, it’s not the fall that’s perilous. Instead, it’s that you can't get back up that can be a real problem. Fall detection is a standard feature of many newer hearing aid models. You can program emergency phone numbers into your phone which will automatically be called if you take a tumble.
• Situational awareness:

As you get older falling down can have a disastrous impact on your health. So your overall health can be protected by decreasing damage from falls or preventing them entirely.

Be Sure to Wear Your Hearing Aids

These benefits, it's worth mentioning, apply to people who have hearing impairment. Hearing aids won't, for instance, help someone with healthy hearing avoid falling.

But using your hearing aids, if you do have hearing loss, is the smartest thing you can do for general health.