Over the years, hearing aids have carried a stigma. Some people simply associate them with old age. The effect?
Many people of every age put themselves at risk from numerous health concerns because they forgo getting hearing aids and choose to deal with hearing loss. The numbers reinforce this: 30 million people in the United States suffering from hearing loss, yet only about 15 percent of that population has ever used a hearing aid.
Also, an increasing number of young people are coping with hearing loss: a WHO report from 2015 predicted that 1.1 billion teenagers and young adults would damage their hearing permanently due to over the top use of headphones and extremely loud music events.
Still, advancing technology and shifting attitudes have begun to frame hearing aids in a new light, and people are beginning to view them in a similar way they look at eye-glasses.
Why Should You Wear Hearing Aids
There are a ton of reasons why wearing hearing aids is a smart idea, some of them are surprising and some are obvious.
Several of the most common reasons are as follows:
- Social activities will be more pleasant
- You can reduce tinnitus symptoms
- You can listen to television and music at normal volumes
- You’ll give your brain a rest
- You can hear better (As noted, there were some obvious ones on this list)
- You won’t struggle as much in conversations
- You’ll boost your earning power
Are these reasons sounding good to you? Even somebody with minor hearing loss can find some benefit from using hearing aids.
What many people aren’t aware of is that hearing loss is associated with mental decline, mental health issues, and conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Research points to a few different reasons why this might happen, including that the brain becomes overtaxed and overtired because it’s always trying to comprehend sounds. It’s possible that the brain cells shrink and die because they don’t receive enough stimulus, or it could be due to the leading cause of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems which is social isolation.
By allowing you to hear words and sounds around you more clearly, hearing aids can help alleviate these issues. Your brain won’t have to make use of additional resources and will be capable of processing sounds in a normal way, while you will begin to enjoy conversations and social experiences again because you will gain more confidence.
Technological Advances in Hearing Aids
We told you why it’s necessary for anybody with hearing loss, young or old, to wear hearing aids. Now it’s time to find out how hearing aids have progressed in the last few years.
If really think you would like one of those large over the ear hearing aids, you can still buy one. They also have advanced to the point that they can determine where sound is originating from and can filter out sound effectively. However, there are new and improved versions of hearing aids that have advanced technology which makes it effortless for them to work with today’s digital environment and are nearly invisible.
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 many modern hearing aids feature Bluetooth technology that allows them to sync with a variety of devices. There are even higher-end models keep track of your physical health, take calls for you, stream music. Hearing aids nowadays are designed to do more – much like your smartwatch and smartphone, smart hearing aids will become a must-have accessory for anybody who has hearing loss. Are you ready to deal with hearing loss and get yourself a hearing aid? Contact us to discover what type of hearing aid will work best for you.