Hearing loss can seriously impact the way you live, even when it’s minor. There will be a significant change in the way you communicate with family, friends, and coworkers. Everyday tasks like going to the grocery store can become more challenging. But it doesn’t have to have this kind of negative impact on you. On the contrary, a well calibrated set of hearing aids can make a huge difference.
Most people tend to think of those benefits in a very linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. But how is the quality of life improved? What further advantages will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it, how we can so often produce top ten lists for anything? When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? Well, perhaps you did if you’ve been coping with your hearing loss for a while.
So, what are the top ten advantages associated with using your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. Your relationships will improve
Great communication is crucial to any good relationship. But communication can be challenging when you have untreated hearing loss. But when you wear hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the entire conversation without missing anything. 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. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have more independence
Shopping at the grocery store or going to a restaurant when you have untreated hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. When you can’t hear very well, communicating with wait staff or cashiers can be tricky. But with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes much easier. You’ll have much more independence when you move around the world around you.
Driving will also be safer. That’s because your hearing aids will increase your all-around situational awareness (more on that later). You will be less anxious about doing things on your own when you can hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Let’s toss out a hypothetical: if you’re attending a meeting at work and miss a lot of what’s discussed, you may not do your job adequately. This can result in reduced job prospects and being passed-up for promotions.
When you’re wearing properly tuned hearing aids, you will be less fatigued from struggling to hear, and keeping up with those meetings will be a lot easier. By doing this you can have an opportunity to raise your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that the majority of people have experienced now and again; it’s that buzzing or ringing in your ear. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can usually be felt much more intensely (tinnitus is sometimes louder with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons too).
Many individuals observe that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they use a hearing aid. In these cases, that’s because the hearing aid is overpowering the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief.
5. Less chance of developing dementia
There is a solid link between mental decline and hearing loss. For instance, untreated hearing loss can significantly elevate your chance of developing dementia. There are many theories about why this may be, but the bottom line is that managing your hearing loss appears to be helpful! That’s why it’s essential to be sure you use your hearing aids. You may be giving your brain a greater chance of remaining healthy longer.
6. You can enjoy music again
It’s difficult to enjoy music, in its full entirety, when you have hearing loss. That’s because one wavelength of sound typically goes before the others. Maybe you can’t hear low frequencies, for example. The music you used to like, consequently, might sound… different.
With your hearing aids, however, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can enjoy music again! You’ll hear all of the wavelengths and your music won’t sound so garbled. Hearing your favorite band again can be extremely enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Having better hearing and interacting more thoroughly will give you a boost of confidence. And who doesn’t like confidence?
This is not to say that hearing impairment should rob you of your confidence. It’s just that, particularly if that hearing loss is new, you might suddenly find it difficult to interact with others in the same ways you usually do.
A hearing aid can make those interactions easier again. And when that happens, confidence will grow.
8. You’ll have more vigor
If your hearing loss has been slowly developing, your brain has likely been working harder. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working correctly, so it’s continuously attempting to fill in the audio holes that your hearing loss has created. That’s… a lot of work! And so, your brain is under continual strain.
When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain the opportunity to slow down and recharge. It won’t have to work so hard. With this, continuous exhaustion and weariness will be lessened. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
You might not have adapted to your hearing loss, particularly if it’s recent. You’re used to hearing traffic before you step out into the road. You’re used to hearing the emergency siren before you check the rearview mirror.
You might assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve neglected it, they really aren’t. That can put you in some really dangerous scenarios.
Hearing aids will help restore that lost awareness. Your decision making will be smarter and safer.
10. You will set a good example!
Change can be hard, and personal growth harder still. When you get a hearing aid, you’re acknowledging that something isn’t actually working properly anymore. But you’re bettering yourself as well.
That’s a positive thing! It’s the sort of thing we should all work for! So you’re becoming a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Get your hearing tested as soon as you can
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to experience hearing better. That goes without saying. But there are plenty of benefits to using hearing aids. This top ten list is certainly not complete.
You might have a totally different top ten list. No matter what benefits you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.