Having to visit the ER can be personally and financially costly. What if you could minimize your risk of falls, accidents, depression, anxiety, and even dementia while also eliminating trips to the ER.
Surfacing studies make the case that, for individuals with severe hearing loss, using their hearing aid could be the difference between staying connected and healthy and winding up spending many nights in the emergency room.
The Study
This University of Michigan research gathered participants that ranged from 65-85. Severe hearing loss was a common problem between them. But only 45% of the participants wore their hearing aids on a regular basis.
This is on par with similar studies which have found that only about 30% of people who have hearing aids actually use them.
Of the 585 individuals in the hearing aid group, 12 fewer people ended up in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This might not seem like a very big number. But it’s statistically significant.
And there’s more. They also found that those who used their hearing aids spend, on average, one day fewer in the hospital. Their time at the ER was probably reduced because they were more likely to keep their regular doctor’s appointments.
How Might Hearing Aids Decrease The Need For ER Visits?
First for the obvious one. If a person is staying on top of their health, they’re more likely to stay out of ER.
Also, individuals who use their hearing aids remain more socially active. When a person is socially connected they are usually more motivated to keep their appointments and also have more help from family and friends getting to the doctor.
And driving is less dangerous when you can hear, so you will have more confidence if you are getting yourself to your appointment.
One study conducted in the U.S. found that depression is two times as likely in people who don’t wear their hearing aid. Health concerns related to lack of self care is commonly an outcome of depression.
Thirdly, various studies have found that wearing your hearing aid can reduce fall risk and dementia. As a person starts to suffer from hearing impairment, the associated region of the brain begins to decline from disuse. The rest of the brain is eventually impacted. As this occurs, people commonly experience dementia symptoms and the disorientation and lack of balance connected with falls.
Falls are one of the major causes of death among people over 65, and the consequent hospitalizations last twice as long.
Hearing aids reduce visits to the ER for these reasons amongst others.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many Individuals Avoid?
It’s difficult to come up with a legitimate excuse.
Some people don’t wear them because they think that hearing aids make them look older than they actually are. This notion persists despite the fact that around 25% of individuals over 65 have substantial hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and older have it. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It happens to many people. Plus, hearing loss is on the rise even with 20-year-olds because of earbuds and the increase in noise pollution.
It’s ironic that when someone is always asking people what they said it actually makes them appear older.
Some individuals cite the costs of hearing aids. However, financing is available for hearing aids and prices have come down in the past few years.
Some individuals don’t like how hearing aids sound. This can typically be fixed by simply working with your hearing specialist to find out how to more successfully use your hearing aid in different settings. Hearing aids can require several fittings before they are just right.
Make an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.