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 analysts out of the University of Manchester. These analysts looked at a team of around 2000 individuals over a time period of nearly 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The unexpected results? Managing your loss of hearing can slow down dementia by up to 75%.
That is not a small figure.
But is it actually that surprising? That’s not to take away from the significance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But the insight we already have aligns well with these findings: treating your hearing loss is vital to slowing dementia as you age.
What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?
You can’t always believe the content presented in scientific studies because it can often be contradictory. There are countless unrelated causes for this. The bottom line is: yet further proof, this research implies untreated loss of hearing can result in or worsen cognitive decline including dementia.
So what does this indicate for you? It’s simple in several ways: you need to come see us as soon as possible if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And you should begin wearing that hearing aid as directed if you discover you need one.
When You Wear Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Counter Dementia
Regrettably, not everybody falls right into the practice of using a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:
- The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits perfectly. If you are suffering from this issue, please get in touch with us. We can help make it fit better.
- The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t seem 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.
- Voices are difficult to make out. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adapt to hearing voices. We can suggest things to do to help make this endeavor go more smoothly, such as reading along with a book recording.
- The way hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be amazed at the assortment of designs we have available nowadays. Some styles are so subtle, you may not even see them.
Obviously using your hearing aids is essential to your health and future mental faculties. If you’re trying to cope with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. Working with your hearing specialist to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.
It’s more significant than ever to deal with your loss of hearing especially taking into consideration the new findings. Hearing aids are protecting your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to be serious about treatment.
What’s The Connection Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?
So what’s the actual link between dementia and hearing loss? Scientists themselves aren’t exactly certain, but some theories are associated with social isolation. When suffering from hearing loss, some people isolate themselves socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some researchers theorize that the loss of stimulation can result in cognitive decline over a period of time.
Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, supplying a more effective natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why a relationship between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can delay dementia by up to 75%.