Studies have found hearing loss to be the third mist common health condition which affects older adults. It occurs in 1/3rd of people over the age of 65 and 2/3rd over the age of 70. Loss of hearing in the later ages may give rise to conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline.
Staying mindful and sharp in the later years of your life is easier said than done. The University of Exeter and King’s College conducted a very interesting study stating that hearing aids may help protect the functioning of brain in older adults. Research has proven that older adults who wear hearing aids, tend to suffer less from age-related hearing loss issues.
Another study, carried out at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation stated the following facts about the benefits of using hearing aids in older adults:
Sensorineural hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss
Age-related hearing loss (Presbycusis)
Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus)
Hearing aids helps patients with hearing loss in the following manner:
Research has found that older adults living with hearing impairment have less gray matter in the auditory centres of their brain. The part of the brain which processes information, muscle movement and allows our body to function is known as gray matter. However, untreated hearing loss can pose a significant effect on the brain health and also accelerate cognitive decline.
A study conducted at the University of Manchester analysed data from the memory tests of over 2000 adults. It was found that older adults took the memory tests every 2 years for 18 years. Older adults who didn’t treat their hearing loss experienced more cognitive declines as compared to those who were using hearing aids.
The regular use of hearing aids in older adults can slow down the cognitive decline. Those who do not treat their hearing loss in time may have to suffer severe damages to the brain. You must not wait to visit an audiology and hearing aid centre for years to get your hearing impairment treated or it might cause you irreversible changes. Hearing aids can’t regenerate the dead cells or replace the gray matter in the brain.
Improved brain functioning can be related to the usage of hearing aids in the following manner:
There are some necessary safety sounds like those of smoke alarms and sirens. Car horns and traffic signal sounds should also be very clearly audible to you while driving. Wearing a hearing aid helps you hear these sounds distinguishingly. It gives proper signals to your brain for differentiating one sound from another.
You don’t hear with your ears, but with your brain. Using hearing aids on a daily basis is just like exercising regularly. If you want your muscles to stay in shape then you need to exercise them every day. Similarly, to keep your auditory nerves in a good working condition, you must wear your hearing aids daily.
Wearing your hearing aids on a regular basis can take time to adjust. Your brain also takes time to get habituated to this device and its signals. This is why it is essential that you wear your hearing aid at all times except for when you’re showering, swimming or sleeping.
Regular usage of hearing aids also helps to improve short term memory. Research has proved that the more you listen with your hearing device put, the better your brain gets at recognizing different sounds and words.
With technological advancements, hearing aids have also been upgraded. Digital hearing aid centres have the following types of hearing aids:
At Quality Hearing Care, we understand the positive impact that a good hearing aid can have on your life. Visit us for booking an appointment and our expert team of professionals to help you with any hearing impairment related issues.