Trips to the ER can cost you time off work, not to mention personal pain. What if you could minimize ER visits and dramatically decrease your risk of depression, anxiety, and even cognitive decline.
Using your hearing aid can be the difference between living an active healthy life and taking lots of trips to the ER, according to some new studies.
The Study
This University of Michigan study assembled participants ranging from 65-85. Each had significant loss of hearing. But only 45% of the participants used their hearing aids regularly.
This is on par with comparable studies which have found that only about 30% of individuals who have hearing aids actually use them.
12 fewer, of the 585 people who did wear their hearing aid, had Er visits or unplanned hospitalizations.
This may seem like a moderate number. But it’s statistically substantial.
And that’s not all. They also discovered that one day fewer, on average, was spent in the hospital for those who used their hearing aids. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which most likely reduced their time in ER.
How Can Emergency Care Visits be Decreased by Using Hearing Aids?
The first one is obvious. You would be less likely to need emergency care if you were keeping up on your health.
Also, people who wear their hearing aids stay more socially active. This can result in both a stronger drive to show up for that doctor’s appointment and better access to services and assistance to get to appointments.
For those bringing themselves, it means that they will be able to drive more safely with less stress about what they can’t hear.
Additionally, a U.S. study revealed that those with hearing loss who don’t wear their hearing aid are twice as likely to be depressed. Depression can result in a lack of self-care, which can lead to health problems.
The third thing is, numerous studies have shown that using your hearing aid can lessen fall risk and dementia. As a person begins to lose their hearing, the associated part of the brain starts to decline from lack of use. Over time, this can spread through the brain. As this occurs, people commonly experience dementia symptoms as well as the disorientation and lack of balance connected with falls.
Long hospital stays often accompany falls and falling is a major cause of senior death.
Hearing aids reduce visits to the ER for these reasons amongst others.
Why do so Many People Neglect Wearing Hearing Aids?
There’s truly no good reason.
Fear of appearing old is one major reason why some people don’t wear their hearing aids. This notion remains in spite of the fact that nearly 25% of individuals over 65 have significant hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and above have it. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It happens to many people. Additionally, hearing loss is on the rise even among 20-year-olds thanks to earbuds and the increase in noise pollution.
Ironically, frequently asking people to repeat themselves often makes a person seem much older than they are.
Cost is frequently cited as a concern. However, hearing aids have become more affordable in just the past few years, and there are financing options available.
Finally, some don’t like the hearing experience with their hearing aid. In this case, your hearing specialist can help you understand what settings work best in different situations. Hearing aids don’t always fit and sound perfect on the first fitting and sometimes need a number of tries.
Make an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.