Taking care of your loss of hearing can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of researchers out of the University of Manchester. These analysts considered a team of around 2000 individuals over the course of almost twenty years (1996 to 2014). The striking outcome? Dealing with your loss of hearing can delay dementia by up to 75%.
That’s a considerable number.
And yet, it’s not really all that surprising. The significance of the finding, of course, is still useful, that type of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the battle against dementia is important and eye-popping. But it aligns well with what we already know: treating your hearing loss is essential to slowing cognitive decline as you age.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always believe the content provided in scientific studies because it can often be inconsistent. The causes for that are lengthy, varied, and not all that relevant to our discussion here. Because here’s the bottom line: this new study is yet further proof that indicates neglected hearing loss can lead to or exacerbate cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in some ways: if you’ve been noticing any probable indications of hearing loss, come see us soon. And you should start wearing that hearing aid as advised if you find out you require one.
Hearing Aids Assist in Preventing Dementia When You Use Them Correctly
Sadly, not everyone falls directly into the practice of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The usual reasons why include:
- The hearing aid doesn’t seem 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.
- You’re concerned about how hearing aids look. You’d be surprised at the variety of styles we have available nowadays. Some models are so subtle, you may not even see them.
- Voices are difficult to make out. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adapt to understanding voices. There are some things we can recommend, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can make this endeavor go more smoothly.
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling like it fits very well. If you are experiencing this problem, please give us a call. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
Your future mental abilities and even your health in general are clearly affected by wearing hearing aids. We can help if you’re having difficulties with any of the above. Quite often the answer will take patience and time, but working with your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process.
It’s more significant than ever to treat your loss of hearing specifically in the light of the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to be serious about treatment.
Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Connection?
So why are these two conditions dementia and loss of hearing even connected to begin with? Specialists themselves aren’t completely sure, but some theories are associated with social solitude. Some people, when faced with hearing loss, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. Over the years, if a person loses sensory stimulation, such as hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes cognitive decline.
Your hearing aid helps you hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more robust 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 down dementia by as much as 75%.