In the past, hearing aids have had a stigma. Some people simply link them with aging. The result?
Countless people of all ages put themselves in danger of a number of health concerns because they decide not to get hearing aids and choose to deal with hearing loss. The numbers reinforce this: 30 million individuals in the United States dealing with hearing loss, yet only around 15 percent of that population has ever used a hearing aid.
Additionally, younger people are suffering from hearing loss in greater numbers than ever before: a WHO report from 2015 forecasted that 1.1 billion teens and young adults would injure their hearing irreparably due to excessive use of headphones and extremely loud music festivals.
Still, shifting attitudes and sophisticated technology have given hearing aids a new life, and pretty soon they’ll be in the same category as eye-glasses – and contact lenses, for that matter.
Why Should You Wear Hearing Aids
There are a lots of reasons why you should use hearing aids, some of them obvious and some of them surprising.
Several of the most common reasons are as follows:
- Social activities will be more pleasant
- You won’t have to turn the music or TV up
- You can lessen tinnitus symptoms
- One of the obvious factors would be that you will be able to hear better
- You’ll be able to earn more money
- You’re brain won’t have to work as hard
- You won’t struggle as much in conversations
Do these seem like good reasons to you? Some advantage can be gained by wearing hearing aids even for individuals with slight hearing loss.
What many people don’t know is that hearing loss is linked to mental decline, mental health problems, and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This may happen for a few different reasons as reported by research, this includes the overworking of the brain as it battles to comprehend sounds that it hears. It might be that the brain cells don’t receive enough stimulation so they shrink and die, or it may be associated with social isolation, which is a major cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Hearing aids can change things for the better by allowing you to hear clearly and understand the words and sounds near you. Your brain won’t need to make use of additional resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a standard way, while you’ll gain the confidence and ability to find enjoyment in social experiences and conversations again.
Hearing Aids Have Developed in Sophistication
We told you why it’s necessary for anybody with hearing loss, young or old, to use hearing aids. Now we’re going to tell you about the how; for example, how hearing aid technology has advanced to the point where they’re nothing like your grandparents’ hearing aids.
If really want one of those big over the ear hearing aids, you can still purchase one. They perform their function acceptably and have advanced to the point where the majority of them have no problem filtering out background noises such as wind or determining what direction sound comes from. Conversely, there are more modern versions of hearing aids that are virtually unnoticeable, yet contain a lot of technology to work with today’s digital world.
Do you want to connect your hearing aid to your cellphone, tablet, tv, or even your car’s GPS? Then you’re in luck since the majority of modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth technology that enables them to sync with many different devices. There are even higher-end models that can stream music, keep track of your physical activity, and automatically take and make phone calls for you. Smart hearing aids are becoming a must for anyone who has hearing loss because much like your smartwatch and smartphone, they’re simply designed to do more. So now that you’re ready to deal with your hearing loss and begin using a hearing aid, get in touch with us for an appointment and hearing assessment.