Even when it’s relatively minor, hearing loss can have a major impact on your life. The way you communicate with friends, coworkers, and family members can change drastically. It can become challenging to accomplish day-to-day tasks such as going shopping. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be all doom and gloom. Quite the opposite, a well adjusted set of hearing aids 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 true. But how is the quality of life improved? Just how far do the benefits of hearing aids go?
The top ten reasons to invest in hearing aids
It’s sort of fascinating, isn’t it, how we can so frequently produce top ten lists for anything? I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you got up this morning. I mean, if you’ve been aware of your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So, what are the top ten advantages connected with using your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. Your relationships will get better
For any relationship to be great, good communication is essential. But communication can be difficult when you have untreated hearing loss. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll be able to follow along with the conversation and get the entire story.
This also means you won’t feel left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations continue without you. So your general relationships, amongst your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. The link between hearing aids and relationships is a powerful one!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you have neglected hearing loss, activities like shopping or eating out can be a real ordeal. Attempting to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be challenging when you can’t hear that well. But the entire process gets easier when you use hearing aids. You can get around much more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your overall situational awareness will be increased by your hearing aids. You will be less anxious about doing things on your own when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. Better hearing could lead to higher pay
Let’s throw out a hypothetical: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss a lot of what’s said, you may not do your job quite as well. This can result in diminished job opportunities and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids firmly in place and working properly, you’ll be able to follow along with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from struggling to hear. By doing this you can have an opportunity to raise your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. Your tinnitus symptoms will lessen
Tinnitus is that ringing or buzzing in the ear that the majority of us have experienced now and then. Tinnitus symptoms will normally be more intense and frequent with hearing loss (tinnitus is sometimes louder with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons as well).
With a hearing aid, many people note that they experience diminished tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, that’s because the hearing aid is drowning out the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief.
5. Less chance of developing dementia
Hearing impairment and cognitive issues are strongly connected. For example, neglected hearing loss can seriously raise your risk of developing dementia. Treating hearing loss seems to be helpful, although there are many theories as to why. That’s why it isn’t a good idea to forget to put in your hearing aid. You might be giving your brain a better chance of staying healthy longer.
6. You can appreciate music again
When you have hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss is likely to impact one frequency of sound first, then another. For example, you may be unable to hear low frequencies. Because of this, the song you once enjoyed may just sound… weird.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing holes in the music will be filled in, and you can enjoy music again! You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a garbled mess). It can be an amazing relief to hear your favorite band again.
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?
We’re not implying that you shouldn’t be confident just because you deal with hearing loss. We’re simply saying that you may find yourself having a hard time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
Those connections can become easier again when you use hearing aids. And when that happens, confidence will grow.
8. Your vitality will be higher
Your brain is probably working extra hard if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. That’s because your brain doesn’t recognize your ears aren’t working correctly, so it’s continuously trying to fill in the audio gaps that your hearing loss has produced. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost continuously.
Your brain gets to recharge and relax when you use a hearing aid. It will have less work to accomplish. Which means you won’t feel so continuously exhausted and drained. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are exciting for you with this increased energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more mindful of your environment
You may not have adjusted to your hearing loss, especially if it’s new. You’re used to hearing traffic before you step out into the road. You’re accustomed to hearing the ambulance siren before you look in the rearview mirror.
You may assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve disregarded it, they really aren’t. And that can be a hazardous proposition.
Hearing aids will help regain that lost awareness. So you’ll be able to make smarter, safer decisions.
10. You will set a good example!
Change can be tough, and personal growth harder still. When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re accepting that something isn’t actually working right anymore. But you’re bettering yourself too.
That’s a positive thing! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? 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.)
Schedule a hearing assessment right away
When you use hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the primary advantage. That goes without saying. But as you can tell, there are lots of immediate advantages of hearing aids! This top ten list is only that, one little list of only ten of these advantages.
Your top ten list might look a little different. No matter what advantages you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.
