We frequently don’t appreciate how important our sense of hearing is until it’s too late. Socially, mentally and physically, our lives are enhanced with good hearing. If you aren’t safeguarding your hearing or ignoring your hearing impairment, you are compromising your overall health in ways you might not have recognized. Here are just a few of the numerous advantages of healthy hearing:
Enhanced Physical Health
After getting hearing aids, 21 percent of people who participated in a Hear The World Foundation survey reported exercising more often. And at least once a week, 34 percent of participants reported engaging in some sporting activity.
Better Mental Health
According to studies by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, hearing impairment has been linked to clinical depression, and also an increased chance of suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Luckily, many of these issues can be prevented or even reversed by using hearing aids.
Improved Relationships
When you’re in a relationship, nothing is more important than communication. This is particularly true with family and friends. Aggravation, miscommunication, and ill will can result from hearing loss. By enhancing your hearing by using hearing aids, you will be better able to participate in conversations, especially in crowded rooms, public places, or other areas with a great deal of background sound.
Improved Mental Abilities
A study released in 2016 revealed that hearing aids can increase brain function in people with hearing impairment. Hearing loss often disrupts cognitive abilities because your brain is completely occupied by attempting to understand what other individuals are saying.
Reduced Tinnitus Symptoms
Hearing aids allow people who have experienced hearing impairment to hear sounds they couldn’t previously hear. Tinnitus symptoms can be hidden by a hearing aid’s ability to increase stimulation between the brain and auditory pathways. Hearing aids also have volume controls that let the wearer effectively mask tinnitus sounds.
Reduced Fatigue
Stress, fatigue, and exhaustion can be the outcome when you need to use extra energy to hear and understand what people are saying. Hearing aids not only help you hear and communicate more efficiently, but they also help you conserve energy by exerting less effort when listening.
Greater Security
You will be able to better respond to critical sounds and noises when you have healthy hearing. Sirens, alarms, cell phones, car horns, and other traffic sounds indicating approaching traffic, need to be heard and hearing aids will help you do that.
Reduced Headaches
Headaches and even migraines commonly accompany tinnitus which can, in turn, make the tinnitus symptoms worse. Using hearing aids can reduce the symptoms of tinnitus, and thus minimize the frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines.
Improved Speech
Young children who are still developing early language skills need to have any hearing problems treated right away. There may be fluid in the child’s inner middle ears canal which could need a tube to be surgically implanted for drainage. A hearing aid may be necessary for more severe conditions to ensure they’re learning to speak precisely and clearly.
Adults also communicate better and have clearer articulation when their hearing is strong.
Greater Confidence in The Workplace
Effective communication is essential to doing your day-to-day work duties. Unfinished tasks, missed deadlines, and misunderstandings will be the outcome if you can’t hear conversations with coworkers. You will have more fulfillment and take greater pride in your career when you avoid these issues by using hearing aids. Stronger communication skills will make your relationship with your coworkers smoother also.
If you suspect you’re experiencing hearing impairment and are fed up with missing essential conversations, you should get in touch with a hearing professional in your area right away. They can help you determine if hearing aids will help you hear better and improve your general health.
References
John Hopkins Medicine: Hearing Loss Accelerates Brain Function Decline in Older Adults
Harvard Health Publishing: Hearing Aids May Help Improve Brain Function