Even when it’s somewhat mild, hearing loss can have a huge impact on your life. The way you interact with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change significantly. Everyday tasks like going to the supermarket can grow more challenging. But it doesn’t have to have this kind of negative affect on you. If you use a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a big difference.
Most people tend to think of those benefits in a really linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s not untrue. But how is the quality of life enhanced? What further benefits will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to invest in hearing aids
We humans just love creating top ten lists. 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… maybe you did!
So, what are the top ten advantages linked to wearing your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. You will have better relationships.
For any relationship to be strong, good communication is crucial. But communication can be problematic when you have neglected hearing loss. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little snippets of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the whole story, and you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation.
You won’t be resentful and feel left out of conversations. So your overall relationships, amongst your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. The link between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have greater independence
When you’re dealing with 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 tricky when you can’t hear that well. But the whole process gets easier when you use hearing aids. You can navigate a lot more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your hearing aids will increase your overall situational awareness (more on that in a bit). You won’t be as anxious about doing things without help when you can hear the world more clearly.
3. Stronger hearing may result in higher income
Consider this hypothetical situation: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being talked about during meetings at work, your job performance will be affected negatively. This can result in lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
With your hearing aids securely in place and working correctly, you’ll be able to keep up with meetings, and you won’t be so tired all the time from straining to hear. This can boost your focus on work and put you in a stronger position to increase your income.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that buzzing or ringing in the ear that the majority of us have experienced occasionally. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can usually be experienced much more intensely (tinnitus is sometimes louder with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there could also be other reasons as well).
With a hearing aid, many people note that they experience diminished tinnitus symptoms. In these circumstances, that’s because the hearing aid is drowning out the sound of the tinnitus. But we will take relief whenever we can, right?
5. Decreased risk of mental decline
Hearing impairment and cognitive decline are strongly connected. Your chance of developing dementia can be seriously increased by neglecting hearing loss, for example. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, though there are numerous theories as to why. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you use your hearing aids. You might be giving your brain a better chance of staying healthy longer.
6. Music can once again be appreciated
When you have hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss is likely to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. Maybe you can’t hear low frequencies, for instance. Because of this, the song you used to enjoy might just sound… strange.
You will be able to enjoy music again with your hearing aids replacing missing sound. You’ll hear all of the wavelengths and your music won’t sound so garbled. Hearing your favorite tune again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Your confidence will be enhanced when you can hear better and have more effective interactions. And who doesn’t want confidence?
This isn’t to say that hearing loss should take away your confidence. It’s just that, particularly if that hearing loss is new, you might suddenly find it a challenge to interact with people in the same ways you always have.
Those interactions can become easier again when you use hearing aids. And that can lead to improved confidence.
8. Your vitality will be increased
Your brain is most likely working extra hard if your hearing loss is slowly progressing. That’s because your brain doesn’t realize your ears aren’t working correctly, so it’s constantly trying to fill in the audio gaps that your hearing loss has created. That’s hard work. And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost constantly.
When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain an opportunity to relax and refresh. It won’t need to work so hard. With this, continuous tiredness and weariness will be decreased. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are stimulating for you with this enhanced energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is new, you might not yet have entirely adjusted. You’re used to hearing traffic before you step out into the road. You’re used to hearing the emergency siren before you look in the rearview mirror.
If your hearing loss is recent, or you aren’t aware of it, you might assume that some situations are safe when they really aren’t. That can put you in some very unsafe situations.
Hearing aids will help regain that lost awareness. Your decision making will be wiser and less hazardous.
10. You will set a good example!
Change can be difficult, and personal growth harder still. When you get a hearing aid, you’re accepting that something isn’t actually working properly anymore. But you’re improving yourself as well.
That’s a positive thing! It’s the type of thing we should all work for! So you’re acting as a role model and a positive example when you wear your hearing aids. (It’s fine, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Get your hearing checked as soon as you can
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That goes without saying. But as you can tell, there are boatloads of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is only that, one little list of only ten of these benefits.
You may have a totally different top ten list. Scheduling an appointment with us for a hearing exam is the first step no matter what advantages you look forward to.