Your brain can be helped by taking care of your loss of hearing. At least, that’s according to a new study by a team of analysts out of the University of Manchester. Over the period of approximately 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 men and women were examined by these scientists. The unexpected results? Dealing with your hearing loss can slow dementia by up to 75%.

That is not an insignificant number.

Nevertheless, it’s not all all that surprising. The importance of the finding, of course, is still relevant, that type of statistical connection between hearing loss treatment and the fight against dementia is noteworthy and eye-popping. But it coordinates well with what we currently know: treating your hearing loss is vital to slowing cognitive decline as you age.

How am I Impacted by This Research?

You can’t always trust the information provided in scientific studies because it can often be inconsistent. The causes for that are lengthy, diverse, and not really that relevant to our topic here. Because here’s the bottom line: yet another piece of evidence, this research reveals neglected hearing loss can lead to or worsen mental decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? In many ways, it’s quite simple: you need to set up an appointment with us right away if you’ve observed any hearing loss. And, if you need a hearing aid, you should absolutely begin wearing that hearing aid as advised.

Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Wear Them Correctly

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

• It’s challenging to understand voices. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adjust to hearing voices. We can suggest things to do to help make this endeavor go more smoothly, such as reading along with an audiobook.
• The hearing aid doesn’t feel as if it fits properly. If you are suffering from this issue, please contact us. We can help make it fit better.
• The hearing aid doesn’t feel 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.
• How hearing aids look concerns you. You’d be surprised at the range of designs we have available now. Some models are so subtle, you may not even see them.

Your future mental abilities and even your overall health are obviously affected by wearing hearing aids. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Sometimes the solution will take time or patience, but consulting your hearing specialist to ensure your hearing aids work for you is a part of the process.

And in light of these new findings, managing your hearing loss is more significant than ever before. Hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing health and your mental health so it’s crucial to take that treatment seriously.

What’s The Link Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?

So why are these two problems loss of hearing and dementia even associated in the first place? Social solitude is the leading theory but experts are not 100% sure. When dealing with hearing loss, some people seclude themselves socially. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. In time, if a person loses sensory stimulation, like hearing loss, the brain gets less activity which then leads to cognitive decline.

You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, offering a more potent natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. 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 connection between the two.