Taking care of your loss of hearing can be helpful for your brain. At least, that’s according to a new study by a group of analysts from the University of Manchester. Over the period of approximately 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 people were studied by these researchers. The surprising results? Dealing with your hearing loss can slow down dementia by up to 75%.

That’s a considerable number.

Nevertheless, it’s not all that unexpected. The importance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, that type of statistical connection between hearing loss treatment and the battle against dementia is important and eye-popping. But the insight we already have coordinates with these findings: as you get older, it’s crucial to treat your hearing loss if you want to delay cognitive decline.

How am I Impacted by This Research?

Scientific research can be perplexing and inconsistent (should I eat eggs, should I not eat eggs? What about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are countless unrelated reasons for this. The main point here is: yet another piece of evidence, this research implies neglected hearing loss can result in or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? In many ways, it’s quite basic: if you’ve noticed any possible symptoms of hearing loss, come see us in the near future. And you really should start using that hearing aid as advised if you find out you require one.

When You Use Them Correctly, Hearing Aids Can Counter Dementia

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

• Peoples voices are difficult to make out. Your brain doesn’t always immediately adjust to hearing voices. There are things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this endeavor go more smoothly.
• The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works the way it should. 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 properly. If you are having this problem, please give us a call. We can help make it fit better.
• The way hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be surprised at the wide variety of designs we have available nowadays. Additionally, many hearing aid models are created to be very unobtrusive.

Your future cognitive abilities and even your health in general are obviously affected by wearing hearing aids. If you’re struggling with any of the above, come see us for an adjustment. At times the solution will take patience and time, but consulting your hearing specialist to ensure your hearing aids work 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 findings. Hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing health and your mental health so it’s important to take that treatment seriously.

Hearing Aids And Dementia, What’s The Relationship?

So what’s the actual link between dementia and hearing loss? Specialists themselves aren’t completely certain, but some theories are related to social solitude. When coping with hearing loss, some people hide themselves away socially. Sensory stimulation is the foundation of another theory. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that the loss of stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over time.

Your hearing aid allows you to hear better. And that can help keep your brain active, delivering a more effective natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why treating hearing loss can slow dementia by as much as 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a connection between the two.