Hearing loss can really effect how you live, even when it’s minor. There will be a significant change in the way you communicate with family, friends, and coworkers. It can become a challenge to accomplish daily tasks such as going shopping. But it doesn’t need to have this kind of negative impact on you. If you use a well adjusted hearing aid, it can make a huge difference.
Most people usually 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 enhanced? Just how far do the advantages of hearing aids go?
Hearing aid’s top ten advantages
We people just love creating top ten lists. When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? I mean, if you’ve been aware of your hearing loss for a while… maybe you did!
So here are the top ten benefits of wearing hearing aids.
1. Your relationships will improve
For any relationship to be great, good communication is essential. But when you have neglected hearing loss, communication can be challenging. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be able to hear the whole conversation without losing anything. You’ll be able to keep up with the conversation and get the entire story.
You won’t be resentful and feel left out of conversations. So your general relationships, amongst your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a powerful one!
2. You’ll have more independence
Shopping at the supermarket or going to a restaurant when you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. When you’re unable to hear all that well, communicating with cashiers and wait staff can be difficult. But with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes much easier. You can get around a lot more independently.
You’ll also be better able to drive safely. That’s because your hearing aids will improve 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. Better hearing may lead to higher pay
Consider this hypothetical scenario: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss a lot of what’s said, you might not do your job quite as well. This can lead to decreased job prospects and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids firmly 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 struggling to hear. By doing this you can have a chance to boost your income by increasing your ability to focus on work.
4. Your tinnitus symptoms will diminish
Tinnitus is that buzzing or ringing in the ear that most of us have experienced occasionally. Tinnitus symptoms will commonly be more extreme and more often with hearing loss (there are a number of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is only relatively louder because everything else is so quiet, for example).
With a hearing aid, many individuals observe that they experience diminished tinnitus symptoms. The louder overall outside sound provided by the hearing aid could be, in some situations, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But relief is relief.
5. Less chance of developing dementia
Hearing loss and cognitive decline are strongly connected. Your chance of developing cognitive decline can be seriously elevated by disregarding hearing loss, for instance. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, although there are numerous theories as to why. That’s why it isn’t a good idea to forget to wear your hearing aid. You could be helping the health of your brain!
6. Music can once again be enjoyed
It’s hard to enjoy music, in its full entirety, when you suffer from hearing impairment. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. For instance, you may be unable to pick up low frequencies. Because of this, the song you used to enjoy may just sound… strange.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can appreciate music again! You’ll hear all of the wavelengths and your music won’t sound so muffled. It can be a great relief to hear your favorite tune again.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Being able to hear better and interact more thoroughly will give you a boost of confidence. And who doesn’t want confidence?
This isn’t to say that hearing impairment should rob you of your confidence. It’s just that, especially if that hearing loss is new, you may suddenly find it challenging to interact with others in the same ways you usually do.
Those interactions can become easier again with hearing aids. And when that takes place, confidence will grow.
8. You’ll have more energy
Your brain is most likely working overtime if your hearing loss is slowly progressing. The audio holes that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t recognize that your ears aren’t working. That’s hard work. And so, your brain is under continual strain.
Your brain gets to refresh and relax when you use a hearing aid. It won’t have to work so hard. With this, persistent tiredness and weariness will be minimized. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have entirely adjusted. Normally, you would hear approaching traffic before you step out into the road. You’re accustomed to hearing the ambulance siren before you check the rearview mirror.
If your hearing loss is recent, or you aren’t aware of it, you might presume that some situations are safe when they actually aren’t. That can put you in some very unsafe scenarios.
This lost awareness will be restored by using hearing aids. So you’ll be able to make wiser, safer decisions.
10. You will set a good example!
Change can be tough, and personal growth still harder. You’re acknowledging that things aren’t functioning effectively now when you get a hearing aid. But you’re improving yourself too.
That’s a positive thing! It’s the sort of thing we should all work for! So when you pop in your hearing aids, you’re setting yourself up as a positive example and role model. (It’s okay, you can blush a bit, you deserve it.)
Schedule an appointment for a hearing exam right away
When you use hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the main benefit. That one’s obvious. But there are lots of benefits to using 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 benefits you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with us to have your hearing checked.