Taking care of your loss of hearing can be good for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of researchers from the University of Manchester. Over the period of approximately 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were examined by these investigators. The surprising outcome? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by managing your loss of hearing.
That’s a considerable number.
But is it really that surprising? The importance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, this is an important statistical connection between the struggle against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the insight we already have aligns well with these findings: as you age, it’s essential to treat your hearing loss if you want to hold off cognitive decline.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always believe the information provided in scientific research because it can often be inconsistent. The causes for that are long, varied, and not all that pertinent to our topic here. The bottom line is: this new study is yet further proof that suggests neglected loss of hearing can result in or worsen mental decline including dementia.
So for you personally, what does this imply? In certain ways, it’s fairly straight forward: you should come see us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as advised if you discover you need one.
Hearing Aids Assist in Preventing Dementia When You Wear Them Regularly
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. The usual reasons why include:
- The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits properly. If you are experiencing this problem, please let us know. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
- The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t appear to be the way it’s currently working. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
- How hearing aids look concerns you. Nowadays, we have a lot of variations available which may surprise you. Some styles are so discreet, you might not even notice them.
- Peoples voices are difficult to make out. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adjust to understanding voices. We can suggest things to do to help make this process go more smoothly, such as reading along with a book recording.
Obviously using your hearing aids is crucial to your health and future mental abilities. If you’re having difficulties with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Quite often the solution will take time or patience, but consulting your hearing specialist to make sure your hearing aids are working for you is a part of the process.
It’s more significant than ever to deal with your hearing loss specifically taking into consideration the new evidence. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to be serious about treatment.
Dementia And Hearing Aids, What’s The Connection?, What’s The Relationship?
So why are these two problems hearing loss and dementia even associated in the first place? Social isolation is the prominent theory but experts are not completely sure. Many people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. Yet another theory has to do with sensory stimulation. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some researchers theorize that the loss of stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over time.
You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Providing a natural defense for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why dealing with hearing loss can slow dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.
