Your brain can be helped by treating your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of researchers out of the University of Manchester. These analysts looked at a group of around 2000 individuals over the course of nearly twenty years (1996 to 2014). The attention-getting findings? Dementia can be delayed by as much as 75% by treating loss of hearing.

That is not an insignificant number.

But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to take away from the importance of the finding, of course, that kind of statistical connection between hearing loss treatment and the battle against dementia is noteworthy and shocking. But it aligns well with what we already know: as you age, it’s vital to treat your loss of hearing if you want to slow down dementia.

What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?

You can’t always rely on the information provided in scientific studies because it can often be inconsistent. There are many unrelated reasons for this. The main point here is: yet another piece of evidence, this research implies neglected loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? It’s simple in some ways: if you’ve been noticing any potential symptoms of hearing loss, make an appointment with us soon. And, if you require a hearing aid, you need to definitely begin wearing that hearing aid as directed.

When You Use Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Prevent Dementia

Regrettably, when people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of using them. Some of the reasons why are:

• The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits perfectly. If you are experiencing this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
• It’s difficult to understand voices. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adjust to recognizing voices again. We can suggest things to do to help make this process easier, like reading along with an audiobook.
• The way hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be surprised at the wide variety of models we have available currently. Also, many hearing aid models are manufactured to be very discreet.
• The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.

Your future mental faculties and even your health as a whole are clearly affected by wearing hearing aids. 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 demands time and patience.

And in light of these new findings, dealing with your hearing loss is more significant than it ever was. Take the treatment seriously because hearing aids are protecting your hearing and your mental health.

Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Relationship?

So what’s the actual connection between dementia and loss of hearing? Experts themselves aren’t exactly sure, but some theories are related to social solitude. When suffering from loss of hearing, some people seclude themselves socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. Over time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain receives less activity which then causes cognitive decline.

Your hearing aid will help you hear better. Providing a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why a link between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can delay dementia by up to 75%.