Over the years, hearing aids have carried a stigma. If you use one, people may think of you as old. What is the result?
Many people of every age put themselves at risk from a number of health concerns because they decide not to get hearing aids and choose to deal with hearing loss. This is backed up by the numbers: 30 million people in the US dealing with hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that population has ever used a hearing aid.
What’s more, younger people are suffering from hearing loss in higher numbers than ever before: 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.
Still, shifting attitudes and advanced technology have given hearing aids a new outlook, and soon they’ll be in the same class as eye-glasses – and contact lenses, for that matter.
Why You Should Wear Hearing Aids
There are a ton of reasons why you should wear hearing aids, some of them obvious and some of them surprising.
Here are some of the most common reasons:
- You won’t struggle as much in conversations
- You can listen to music and television at normal volumes
- You can reduce tinnitus symptoms
- You’re brain won’t need to work as hard
- Social activities will be more satisfying
- You’ll be able to hear better (As noted, there were some obvious ones on this list)
- You’ll be able to earn more money
Do these seem like beneficial reasons to you? Even someone with mild hearing damage can get some benefit from using hearing aids.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is associated with mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This might occur for a few different reasons according to research, including that the brain gets overtaxed and overtired because it’s always attempting to comprehend sounds. it could be that the brain cells shrink and die because they don’t receive enough stimulation, or it could be because of the leading cause of anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems which is social isolation.
By allowing you to hear words and sounds around you more clearly, hearing aids can help lessen these issues. Your brain won’t have to utilize additional resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a normal way, while you will begin to enjoy conversations and social activities again because you will gain more confidence.
Hearing Aids Have Advanced in Sophistication
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; for example, how hearing aid technology has progressed to the point where they’re no longer your grandparents’ hearing aids.
The cumbersome, over-the-ear hearing aids are still out there for the people who want them. They also have advanced to the point that they can figure out where sound is originating from and can filter out sound adequately. However, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that have advanced technology which makes it easy for them to work with today’s digital world and are nearly invisible.
Is connecting your hearing aids to your Bluetooth devices such as your tv, smartphone, or tablet something you might like to do? Most modern hearing aids come with Bluetooth technology so you’re in luck. There are even higher-end versions keep track of your physical health, take calls for you, stream music. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anybody who has hearing loss because just like your smartwatch and smartphone, they’re simply made to do more. So now that you are ready to deal with your hearing loss and start using a hearing aid, contact us for an appointment and hearing assessment.
