There are a number of people who find that they don’t want to use hearing aids, even if they have significant hearing loss. They may associate hearing aids with aging and “looking old,” or perhaps they just don’t want to mess with the technology. However, this is a mistake: if you have hearing loss, you should absolutely be using hearing aids.
There are a number of reasons why it’s important to use hearing aids if your hearing isn’t optimal. Today we’re going to get in to the various benefits using hearings aids confers, and what detriments you incur by not using them when you need to.
Mental Acuity
Numerous studies have shown that choosing not to use hearing aids even when you have suboptimal hearing is a huge way to invite cognitive issues. Things like memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s have all been shown to be more directly impactful on people with loss of hearing. Of course, the flip side of this is that if you use hearing aids, the effects of such cognitive degeneration are slowed dramatically.
This is likely due to a combination of factors. Namely, brain function as we age alters due to the dulling of the senses. Much like muscles, if you don’t use your brain’s functions then they’ll get weaker. We, as humans, need mental stimulation to keep ourselves sharp. The same can be said for visual stimuli, as well as touch and smell and taste. As long as you’re receiving stimulation to various parts of your brain, you’re staving off cognitive degradation.
Social Awareness
It’s very difficult to carry on a conversation with someone who can’t hear every other word you’re saying. Imagine how frustrating it must be for your friends or family to have to yell to be understood by you. It’s also uncomfortable for anyone if you mishear them and react as though they said something they didn’t say. Taking the time to correct your mistake, walking back the conversation and trying to be understood is a huge social embarrassment and hassle.
An easy way to alleviate all this social stress and conversational awkwardness is to simply wear your hearing aids. They allow you to easily hear your friends and family when carrying on a conversation. You won’t miss important information, and you’ll be able to hear conversations without people having to shout at you.
Safety
It’s very dangerous to walk around a busy, crowded street without being able to hear the world around you. Things like rushing emergency vehicles, people shouting about potential hazards and even the sounds of fights or gunshots might go unnoticed if you’re not using hearing aids. By going out into the world without them, you’re inviting disaster. What if there’s a fire and you don’t hear the alarm going off and get stuck in the building?
Another safety consideration regarding hearing is driving. If you go out driving but don’t wear your hearing aids, it’s much more likely that you don’t hear things like emergency vehicle sirens and the sounds of car horns blaring. By wearing your hearing aids, you’re more likely to be aware of your surroundings and react to traffic patterns around you.
Enjoyment
Simply hearing the sounds of birds chirping, babies crying, and wind rustling the leaves in the trees can be meditative and enjoyable. Who doesn’t love the sound of a running creek or the tides coming in and out? If you’re hard of hearing and don’t have, or don’t wear, your hearing aids, consider all the ways you’re missing out. Look out for your safety, your cognitive function and your friends and family by using hearing aids.