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 out of the University of Manchester. These researchers looked at a team of more than 2000 participants over a time period of nearly 2 decades (1996 to 2014). The outstanding conclusions? Dementia can be slowed by as much as 75% by managing your hearing loss.

That’s a substantial figure.

Nevertheless, it’s not really that surprising. The significance of the finding, of course, is still useful, that kind of statistical correlation between hearing loss treatment and the fight against dementia is important and shocking. But the information we already have aligns well with these findings: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your hearing loss if you want to delay dementia.

How am I Impacted by This Research?

You can’t always rely on the content provided in scientific studies because it can frequently be contradictory. There are lots of unrelated causes for this. The bottom line is: this new research is yet another piece of evidence that indicates untreated loss of hearing can lead to or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? It’s straightforward in several ways: you need to come see us right away if you’ve noticed any hearing loss. And, if you need a hearing aid, you need to absolutely begin wearing that hearing aid as advised.

When You Use Them Regularly, Hearing Aids Can Help Prevent Dementia

Regrettably, when most people are prescribed with hearing aids, they don’t always instantly get into the habit of wearing them. Some of the reasons why are:

• You’re worried about how hearing aids appear. You’d be amazed at the range of styles we have available nowadays. Some styles are so subtle, you might not even see them.
• The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
• The hearing aid isn’t feeling as if it fits perfectly. If you are suffering from this problem, please give us a call. We can help make it fit better.
• Voices are difficult to understand. In many situations, it takes time for your brain to adapt to recognizing voices again. There are some things we can recommend, such as reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this endeavor go more smoothly.

Obviously using your hearing aids is important to your health and future mental faculties. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. 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 in the light of the new findings. Hearing aids are defending your hearing health and your mental health so it’s vital to be serious about treatment.

Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Connection?

So why are these two conditions loss of hearing and dementia even linked in the first place? Social solitude is the leading theory but experts are not 100% sure. Some people, when faced with loss of hearing, become less socially active. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. Over time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then causes mental decline.

You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. Offering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why taking care of hearing loss can slow dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a link between the two.