In the past, hearing aids have carried a stigma. Some people simply correlate them with aging. What is the result?
Many people of all ages put themselves at risk from a number of health concerns 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 suffering from hearing loss, yet only about 15 percent of that group has ever worn a hearing aid.
At the same time, an increasing number of young people are coping with hearing loss: a WHO report from 2015 forecasted that too much use of headphones and overly loud concert events and festivals will cause over 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults to permanently damage their hearing.
Still, advancing technology and shifting attitudes have started to frame hearing aids in a new light, and people are starting to view them in a similar way they look at eye-glasses.
Why You Should Wear Hearing Aids
There are a lots of reasons why wearing hearing aids is a smart idea, some of them are unexpected and some are obvious.
Here are a few of the most common reasons:
- Conversations will be much easier
- You won’t have to turn the music or TV up
- One of the obvious reasons is that you can hear better
- You’re brain won’t have to work so hard
- Social activities will be more enjoyable
- You can decrease tinnitus symptoms
- You’ll raise your earning power
Do these sound like good reasons to you? Some benefit can be gained by wearing hearing aids even for individuals with mild hearing loss.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is connected to mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research points to several different reasons why this might occur, this includes the overworking of the brain as it struggles to understand sounds that it hears. it could be that the brain cells shrink and die because they don’t receive enough stimulation, or it might be connected to social isolation, which is a major cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Hearing aids can change things for the better by allowing you to hear clearly and comprehend the words and sounds near you. Your brain won’t need to utilize additional resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a normal way, while you’ll gain the confidence and ability to enjoy social experiences and conversations again.
Technological Developments in Hearing Aids
By now it should be apparent why people of any age need to wear hearing aids if they need them. Now we’re going to talk about the how; as in, how hearing aid technology has advanced to the point where they’re no longer your grandparents’ hearing aids.
If really want one of those large over the ear hearing aids, you can still buy one. They also have progressed to the point that they can determine where sound is originating from and can filter out sound adequately. Conversely, there are new and improved versions of hearing aids that have sophisticated technology which makes it straight forward for them to work with today’s digital world and are almost invisible.
Is syncing your hearing aids to your Bluetooth devices including your television, cellphone, or tablet something you would want to do? Most modern hearing aids come with Bluetooth technology so you’re in luck. There are even higher-end versions that can stream music, keep track of your physical activity, and automatically take and make phone calls for you. Hearing aids nowadays are made to do more – just like your smartwatch and smartphone, smart hearing aids will come to be a must-have accessory for anyone who has 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.