Hearing loss can seriously effect the way you live, even when it’s mild. There will be a dramatic change in the way you communicate with family, friends, and coworkers. It can become difficult to accomplish daily activities like going shopping. But it doesn’t have to have this kind of negative affect on you. If you use a well adjusted hearing aid, it can make a big difference.
Hearing aids help you hear better, and that’s usually how most people think of them. And that’s not untrue. But how is the quality of life enhanced? Just how far do the benefits of hearing aids go?
The top ten reasons to invest in hearing aids
We people just love creating top ten lists. When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? I mean, if you’ve known about your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So, what are the top ten benefits connected with using your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. Your relationships will improve
Strong communication is crucial to any great relationship. But communication can be challenging when you have untreated hearing loss. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little snippets of conversation. You’ll be able to follow along with the conversation and get the entire story.
This also means you won’t feel excluded from the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations carry on without you. So your overall relationships, amongst your friends, co-workers, and loved ones, will improve. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have greater independence
When you have untreated hearing loss, tasks such as shopping or dining out can be a real ordeal. Attempting to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be challenging when you can’t hear that well. But with a pair of hearing aids, the entire process quickly becomes a lot easier. You’ll have a lot more independence when you navigate the world around you.
Driving will also be safer. That’s because your general situational awareness will be enhanced by your hearing aids. You will be less anxious about doing things on your own when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Consider this hypothetical situation: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your job performance will suffer. This can result in decreased job prospects and being passed-up for promotions.
When you’re wearing properly calibrated hearing aids, you will be less exhausted from straining to hear, and keeping up with those meetings will be much easier. This can increase your focus on work and put you in a better position to increase your income.
4. You’ll have diminished tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that the majority of people have experienced at times; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. Tinnitus symptoms will usually be more extreme and frequent with hearing loss (tinnitus is sometimes louder with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there might also be other reasons too).
Many individuals report that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they use a hearing aid. The louder overall external sound provided by the hearing aid may be, in some situations, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But we will take relief whenever we can, right?
5. Decreased risk of mental decline
There is a solid connection between mental decline and hearing impairment. For example, neglected hearing loss can significantly raise your chance of developing dementia. There are lots of hypotheses about why this might be, but the end result is that treating your hearing loss appears to help! That’s why it’s not a good idea to forget to wear your hearing aid. 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 harder to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one wavelength of sound first, then another. For example, you may be unable to pick up low frequencies. The music you used to like, consequently, may sound… different.
With your hearing aids, however, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can enjoy music again! You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a muffled mess). Hearing your favorite tune again can be extremely enjoyable.
7. Your confidence will improve
Having better hearing and interacting more completely will give you a boost of confidence. And who doesn’t want confidence?
We’re not suggesting that you shouldn’t be confident just because you have hearing loss. It’s just that, especially if that hearing loss is recent, you may suddenly find it challenging to interact with people in the same ways you always have.
Those interactions can become easier again when you use hearing aids. And when that happens, confidence will grow.
8. Your energy will be increased
If your hearing impairment has been gradually developing, your brain has probably been working overtime. That’s because your brain doesn’t recognize your ears aren’t working right, so it’s constantly attempting to fill in the audio gaps that your hearing loss has created. That’s hard work. And so, your brain is under continual strain.
Your brain gets to recharge and unwind when you use a hearing aid. It will have less work to do. With this, persistent tiredness and fatigue will be decreased. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are exciting for you with this increased energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your environment
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have completely adjusted. Normally, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. Before you look up into your rearview mirror, you would usually hear the oncoming sirens.
If your hearing loss is new, or you aren’t conscious of it, you might presume that some scenarios are safe when they really aren’t. And that can be a hazardous proposition.
Hearing aids will help restore that lost awareness. So you’ll be capable of making smarter, less dangerous decisions.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
The one thing that can be even more challenging than change is personal growth. When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re accepting that something isn’t actually working properly anymore. But you’re also trying to improve the situation.
That’s a good thing! It’s the kind of thing we should all work for! So when you put in your hearing aids, you’re setting yourself up as a positive example and role model. You should be proud of yourself.
Have your hearing checked today
When you use hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the biggest advantage. That goes without saying. But as you can tell, there are tons of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is by no means complete.
You might have a totally different top ten list. No matter what advantages you look forward to the most, the first step is scheduling an appointment with us to have your hearing tested.