If you wear hearing aids, you know the kinds of benefits they give you. For example, hearing aids have likely made it easier to have conversations with loved ones, especially when you’re at restaurants or in a group.
But hearing aids do much more than enrich your social life. They may actually have a profound impact on you by keeping you mentally sharp, lowering your risk of depression, and improving your balance.
If you already wear hearing aids all the time, pat yourself on the back; you may already be improving your brain function! If you wear them only occasionally (or rarely), here are five facts—backed by medical studies—that may encourage you to wear them more often.
1. Hearing aids may play a role in your risk of dementia.
A comprehensive 15-year study found that even a little middle-aged hearing loss is linked to a 71% increased risk of developing dementia. This study also found connections between untreated hearing loss and brain aging and function. The good news is that hearing aid use may protect against these harmful effects.
2. Hearing aids may lower your risk of age-related cognitive decline.
In a 25-year study, scientists measured mental decline in people with hearing loss and those with normal hearing. The study found that people who had hearing loss—and chose not to wear hearing aids—showed significant mental decline compared to people with normal hearing. However, people with hearing loss who wore hearing aids performed the same on cognitive tests as those without any hearing loss! Want to keep your brain healthy as you age? Keep wearing your hearing aids regularly.
3. Hearing aids can improve memory and mental acuity.
One study tested a group of people with hearing loss on a series of tasks to measure their memory, ability to focus, and the speed at which they processed information. Then they gave the participants hearing aids. There were improvements after just two weeks of wearing hearing aids. Participants could remember things better, focus better, and process information faster than before. Not only can hearing aids keep you mentally sharp, but having better memory, focus, and mental processing may help you seem younger to the people you interact with every day!
4. People who wear hearing aids report less anxiety and depression.
Research has shown that people with mild-to-moderate or worse hearing loss are twice as likely to report having anxiety or depression. They’re also more likely to be using mental health medications and services. However, the good news is those who wear hearing aids report lower rates of depression and anxiety, suggesting that treating your hearing loss can give your mental well-being and mood a boost.
5. Hearing aids reduce the risk of falling in people 60 and older.
Did you know hearing loss can impact your balance and stability and increase your risk of falling? Thankfully, research suggests wearing hearing aids significantly lowers your odds of falling, even more so for those who wear hearing aids for at least four hours a day. Having better balance with hearing aids means a reduced chance of injury, expensive hospitalizations, and even death related to falling.
Do you want to experience better brain function, improved mental health, and a lowered fall risk? Wearing your hearing aids more often can help. As a side benefit, the families of people with hearing loss report that those who wear hearing aids participate more in social activities and have better relationships—creating a higher quality of life.
We encourage you not only to wear your hearing aids more often but also to pass this information on to loved ones who haven’t addressed their hearing loss and encourage them to get it checked out. TruHearing® has a fast and easy hearing screening to help.