Your brain can be helped by treating your loss of hearing. At least, that’s according to a new study from a University of Manchester study group. These analysts looked at a team of around 2000 participants over the course of just about twenty years (1996 to 2014). The attention-getting results? Managing your hearing loss can slow down dementia by up to 75%.

That’s a significant number.

But still, it’s not really all that surprising. That’s not to take away from the importance of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the fight against cognitive decline and the treatment of hearing loss. But it coordinates well with what we already know: treating your loss of hearing is essential to slowing cognitive decline as you age.

What Does This Research on Dementia Mean For me?

Scientific research can be inconsistent and confusing (should I eat eggs, shouldn’t I eat eggs? What about wine? Will that help me live longer?). There are countless unrelated reasons for this. The main point here is: yet another piece of evidence, this research suggests untreated hearing loss can result in or worsen mental decline including dementia.

So what does this mean for you? In many ways, it’s quite basic: you need to set up an appointment with us right away if you’ve noticed any loss of hearing. And you really should begin wearing that hearing aid as directed if you find out you require one.

Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Use Them Regularly

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

• Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adapt to hearing voices. There are some things we can recommend, including reading along with an audiobook, that can help make this situation easier.
• The way that the hearing aid is advertised to work, doesn’t seem to be the way it’s currently working. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed.
• The hearing aid doesn’t feel like it fits very well. If you are suffering from this issue, please give us a call. They can fit better and we’re here to help.
• The way hearing aids look concerns you. Nowadays, we have lots of types available which may surprise you. In addition, many hearing aid styles are created to be very discreet.

Obviously using your hearing aids is essential to your health and future cognitive faculties. If you’re trying to cope with any of the above, get in touch with us for an adjustment. Consulting your hearing professional to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.

It’s more important than ever to deal with your hearing loss particularly taking into consideration the new evidence. 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 Connection?

So why are these two health conditions hearing loss and dementia even linked in the first place? Researchers themselves aren’t completely sure, but some theories are related to social isolation. Some people, when dealing with loss of hearing, become less socially involved. Sensory stimulation is the basis of another theory. All senses generate activity in the brain, and some scientists theorize that losing stimulation can lead to cognitive decline over time.

You hear better with a hearing aid. Delivering a natural safeguard for your brain against cognitive decline and helping to keep your brain active. That’s why a connection between the two shouldn’t be unexpected and why hearing loss treatments can slow down dementia by up to 75%.