In the past, hearing aids have carried a stigma. If you wear one, people might think of you as aging. What is the outcome?
Lots of people of every age put themselves in danger of numerous health problems because they decide not to get hearing aids and choose to deal with hearing loss. The numbers reinforce this: 30 million individuals in the United States suffering from hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that group has ever worn a hearing aid.
At the same time, more and more young people are coping with hearing loss: a WHO report from 2015 forecasted that 1.1 billion teens and young adults would damage their hearing permanently due to over the top use of headphones and louder and louder music festivals.
Still, advancing technology and changing attitudes have started to frame hearing aids in a new light, and people are starting to view them in a similar way they look at eye-glasses.
Why You Should Wear Hearing Aids
There are a ton of reasons why wearing hearing aids is a good idea, some of them are surprising and some are obvious.
Several of the most common reasons are as follows:
- You won’t need to turn the TV or music up
- You won’t struggle as much having conversations
- One of the obvious reasons is that you will be able to hear better
- Social activities will be more satisfying
- You’ll be able to earn more money
- You can reduce tinnitus symptoms
- You’ll give your brain a rest
Do these sound like good reasons to you? Even someone with slight hearing damage can get some benefit from wearing hearing aids.
What many people don’t know is that hearing loss is linked to mental decline, mental health issues, and conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies point to a few different reasons why this may happen, including that the brain gets overtaxed and overtired because it’s always striving to comprehend sounds. It may be that the brain cells don’t receive enough activation so they shrink and die, or it may be due to the leading cause of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues which is social isolation.
By allowing you to hear words and sounds near you more clearly, hearing aids can help alleviate these issues. Your brain won’t need to make use of additional resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a standard way, while you’ll gain the ability and confidence to find enjoyment in social experiences and conversations again.
Hearing Aids Have Developed in Technology
We told you why it’s necessary for anyone with hearing loss, old or young, to use hearing aids. Now we’re going to talk about the how; for example, how hearing aid technology has advanced to the point where they’re no longer your grandparents’ hearing aids.
If really want one of those large over the ear hearing aids, you can still purchase one. They do their task effectively and have progressed to the point where most of them have no problem filtering out background sounds like wind or determining what direction sound comes from. However, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that have advanced technology which makes it effortless for them to work with today’s digital environment and are almost invisible.
Do you want to sync your hearing aid to your smartphone, tablet, tv, or even your car’s navigation system? Most modern-day hearing aids come with Bluetooth technology so you’re in luck. There are even higher-end models keep track of your physical health, take calls for you, stream music. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anyone 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 wearing a hearing aid, contact us for an appointment and hearing assessment.
