Hearing loss can seriously effect the way you live, even when it’s minor. The way you connect with friends, coworkers, and family members can change substantially. Everyday activities like going to the supermarket can grow more challenging. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be all doom and gloom. If you utilize a well adjusted hearing aid, it can make a huge difference.
Most people normally think of those benefits in a really linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. But how do hearing aids better quality of life? What further advantages will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We humans just love creating top ten lists. I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you woke up this morning. Well, maybe you did if you’ve been coping with your hearing loss for a while.
So here are the top ten advantages of using hearing aids.
1. You will have improved relationships.
Great communication is critical to any great relationship. But when you have untreated hearing loss, communication can be a real challenge. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the full story, and you’ll be capable of keeping up with the conversation.
This also means you won’t feel left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations go on without you. So you will have an improvement in your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. The link between hearing aids and relationships is a powerful one!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss, activities like shopping or eating out can be a real ordeal. When you’re unable to hear all that well, communicating with cashiers and wait staff can be difficult. But the entire process becomes easier when you use hearing aids. You’ll have a lot more independence when you navigate the world around you.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your hearing aids will enhance your overall situational awareness (more on that in a bit). You will be less anxious about doing things without help when you can hear the world more clearly.
3. You might make more money
Let’s toss out a hypothetical: if you’re attending a meeting at work and miss half of what’s discussed, you might not do your job quite as well. This can lead to passed promotions or even dicey job opportunities.
With your hearing aids securely in place and working properly, you’ll be able to keep up with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from straining to hear. By doing this you can have a chance to boost your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have reduced tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that ringing or buzzing in the ear that the majority of us have experienced now and then. When you suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus can frequently be experienced much more intensely (there are a number of explanations for this, sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively louder because everything else is so quiet, for instance).
Many individuals observe that their tinnitus symptoms ease up when they wear a hearing aid. In these instances, that’s because the hearing aid is drowning out the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief.
5. Decreased risk of cognitive decline
There is a solid connection between mental decline and hearing loss. For instance, neglected hearing loss can significantly elevate your risk of developing dementia. Treating hearing loss appears to be helpful, even though there are many theories as to why. That’s why it’s important to be sure you wear your hearing aids. You could be giving your brain a better chance of staying healthy longer.
6. You can appreciate music again
When you suffer from hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss is likely to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. Maybe you’re unable to hear low frequencies, for example. Because of this, the song you once enjoyed may just sound… strange.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can appreciate music again! You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a garbled mess). Hearing your favorite song again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Your confidence will be enhanced when you can hear better and have more successful interactions. And confidence is a great thing.
We’re not implying that you shouldn’t be confident just because you deal with hearing loss. It’s just that, especially if that hearing loss is new, you might suddenly find it difficult to interact with people in the same ways you usually do.
A hearing aid can make those interactions easier again. And that can lead to improved confidence.
8. Your energy will be increased
Your brain is most likely working extra hard if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. The audio holes that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t know that your ears aren’t functioning. That’s hard work. And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost continuously.
When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain a chance to relax and recharge. It won’t need to work so hard. Which means you won’t feel so constantly tired and depleted. You’ll have more vitality to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more mindful of your surroundings
You may not have adjusted to your hearing loss, especially if it’s recent. Normally, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. Before you look up into your rearview mirror, you would ordinarily hear the oncoming sirens.
You may assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve neglected it, they really aren’t. That can put you in some really dangerous scenarios.
Hearing aids will help reestablish that lost awareness. Your decision making will be smarter and safer.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
The one thing that can be even more challenging than change is personal growth. You’re acknowledging that things aren’t working properly now when you get a hearing aid. But you’re also trying to better the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the kind of thing we should all strive for! So when you put in your hearing aids, you’re making yourself a positive example and role model. (It’s okay, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam right away
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That goes without saying. But as you can tell, there are tons of immediate advantages of hearing aids! This top ten list is by no means complete.
You may have an entirely different top ten list. Scheduling an appointment with us for a hearing assessment is the first step no matter what advantages you look forward to.