Hearing loss can really 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. Everyday activities like going to the supermarket can become more challenging. But that doesn’t mean it has to be all doom and gloom. If you utilize a well adjusted hearing aid, it can make a big difference.
Most individuals tend to think of those advantages in a very linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. But how do hearing aids improve quality of life? Just how far do the advantages of hearing aids go?
Hearing aid’s top ten benefits
It’s kind of fascinating, isn’t it, how we can so often put together top ten lists for everything? I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you woke up this morning. I mean, if you’ve been aware of your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So here are the top ten benefits of using hearing aids.
1. You will have better relationships.
Strong communication is critical to any great relationship. But when you have untreated hearing loss, communication can be challenging. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll be able to keep up with the conversation and get the whole story.
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 members, friends, and colleagues. There is a strong link between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss, tasks like shopping or dining out can be a real ordeal. Trying to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be difficult when you can’t hear very well. But the entire process becomes easier when you have hearing aids. You’ll have much more independence when you move around the world around you.
Driving will also be less hazardous. That’s because your hearing aids will improve your total situational awareness (more on that in a bit). When you hear more of the world, you’ll be able to do more on your own, and you’ll be able to do it with less anxiety.
3. Stronger hearing may result in higher pay
Consider this hypothetical scenario: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being talked about during meetings at work, your work performance will be affected negatively. This can result in lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
When you’re wearing properly calibrated hearing aids, you will be less fatigued from struggling to hear, and following along with those meetings will be a lot easier. This can increase your focus on work and put you in a stronger position to increase your income.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that most people have experienced now and again; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can often be felt much more intensely (there are a number of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for example).
Many individuals report that their tinnitus symptoms ease up when they use a hearing aid. In these cases, that’s because the hearing aid is drowning out the sound of the tinnitus. But we will take relief where we can get it, right?
5. Less chance of developing dementia
Hearing loss and cognitive decline are firmly connected. Your chance of developing dementia can be significantly elevated by ignoring hearing loss, for instance. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, even though there are numerous theories as to why. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you use your hearing aids. You could be helping your brain health!
6. You can enjoy music again
When you have hearing loss music is harder to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. For instance, you might be unable to hear low frequencies. The music you used to like, as a result, might sound… different.
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 just one or the other (or a garbled mess). Hearing your favorite band again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get an increase in confidence
Your confidence will be boosted when you can hear better and have more effective interactions. And confidence is a wonderful thing.
We’re not implying that you shouldn’t be confident just because you deal with hearing loss. We’re just saying that you may find yourself having a difficult time interacting with others, especially if your hearing loss is new.
A hearing aid can make those connections easier again. And when that takes place, confidence will grow.
8. You’ll have more vigor
Your brain is most likely working overtime if your hearing loss is slowly advancing. The audio gaps 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 working. That’s hard work. And it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost all the time.
When you get a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain an opportunity to relax and refresh. It will have less work to accomplish. Which means you won’t feel so continually tired and depleted. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are exciting for you with this enhanced energy.
9. Being more conscious of your surroundings will keep you safer
If your hearing loss is recent, you may not yet have entirely adjusted. You’re used to being able to hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. Before you look in your rearview mirror, you would usually hear the oncoming sirens.
You may presume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve disregarded it, they really aren’t. That can put you in some really unsafe scenarios.
Hearing aids will help reestablish that lost awareness. So you’ll be capable of making wiser, safer choices.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
The one thing that can be even more difficult than change is personal growth. When you get a hearing aid, you’re admitting that something isn’t necessarily 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 you’re acting as a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Have your hearing tested today
The main advantage of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That one’s obvious. But as you know, there are lots of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is by no means exhaustive.
You may have a totally different top ten list. No matter what advantages you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.