Your brain can be helped by dealing with your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester research team. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were studied by these investigators. The attention-getting findings? Treating your loss of hearing can slow down dementia by as much as 75%.
That is not a small figure.
But still, it’s not really all that surprising. That’s not to take away from the significance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical correlation between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the information we already have coordinates with these findings: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your loss of hearing if you want to delay dementia.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always trust the information presented in scientific studies because it can often be contradictory. There are lots of unrelated reasons for this. The bottom line is: yet further proof, this research reveals untreated loss of hearing can result in or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in many ways: you need to come see us as soon as possible if you’ve observed any loss of hearing. And, if you need a hearing aid, you need to absolutely start wearing that hearing aid as directed.
Hearing Aids Assist in Preventing Dementia When You Wear Them Regularly
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the habit of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it works the way it should. 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 like it fits very well. If you are having this problem, please contact us. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- The way hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be surprised at the assortment of styles we have available now. Plus, many hearing aid styles are created to be very discreet.
- It’s difficult to make out voices. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adapt to understanding voices. There are some things we can suggest, including reading along with an audiobook, that can make this situation go more smoothly.
Clearly wearing your hearing aids is essential to your health and future mental abilities. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it requires time and patience.
It’s more significant than ever to manage your hearing loss especially in the light of the new findings. Take the treatment seriously because hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing and your mental health.
What’s The Link Between Hearing Aids And Dementia?
So what’s the real connection between hearing loss and dementia? Social isolation is the leading theory but scientists are not 100% sure. Some people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that losing stimulation can cause cognitive decline over a period of time.
Your hearing aid helps you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, supplying a more potent natural safeguard against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a connection between the two should not be surprising and why hearing loss treatments can slow dementia by up to 75%.