Even when it’s somewhat minor, hearing loss can have a huge impact on your life. The way you communicate with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change dramatically. It can become challenging to accomplish daily activities such as going shopping. But it doesn’t need to have this kind of negative impact on you. If you utilize a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a huge difference.
Most people tend to think of those advantages 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 benefits
It’s sort of fascinating, isn’t it, how people can so frequently come up with top ten lists for everything? When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? I mean, if you’ve known about your hearing loss for a while… maybe you did!
So here are the top ten advantages of using hearing aids.
1. You will have improved relationships.
For any relationship to be great, good communication is indispensable. But when you have neglected hearing loss, communication can be a real challenge. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the entire conversation without losing anything. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the full story, and you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation.
You won’t be resentful and feel left out of conversations. So your overall relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have greater independence
Shopping at the supermarket or going to a restaurant when you have neglected hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. Attempting to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be challenging when you can’t hear very well. But the whole process becomes easier when you use hearing aids. You’ll have much more independence when you navigate the world around you.
Driving will also be safer. That’s because your hearing aids will enhance your overall situational awareness (more on that in a bit). When you hear more of the world, you’ll be able to do more by yourself, and you’ll be able to do it without as much anxiety.
3. You might make more money
Let’s throw out a hypothetical: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your work performance will suffer. This can result in diminished job opportunities and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids securely 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 straining to hear. This can boost your focus on work and put you in a stronger position to increase your income.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that buzzing or ringing in the ear that the majority of us have experienced now and then. Tinnitus symptoms will commonly be more intense and frequent with hearing loss (there are a number of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively louder because everything else is so quiet, for example).
Many individuals report that their tinnitus symptoms ease up when they wear a hearing aid. In these circumstances, that’s because the hearing aid is overpowering the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief.
5. Lower chance of mental decline
There is a firm connection between cognitive decline and hearing impairment. Your risk of developing dementia can be significantly elevated by neglecting hearing loss, for instance. Managing hearing loss seems to be helpful, even though there are numerous theories as to why. That’s why it’s not 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. Music can once again be appreciated
When you suffer from hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because one wavelength of sound typically goes before the others. For instance, you may be unable to hear low frequencies. As a result, the song you used to enjoy might just sound… weird.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can enjoy music again! You’ll hear all of the frequencies and your music won’t sound so muffled. It can be an incredible relief to hear your favorite band again.
7. Your confidence will improve
Your confidence will be boosted when you can hear better and have more successful interactions. And confidence is a great thing.
This is not to say that hearing impairment should rob you of your confidence. It’s just that, particularly if that hearing loss is recent, you could suddenly find it a challenge to interact with people in the same ways you usually do.
Those interactions can become easier again when you use hearing aids. And that can lead to a boost in confidence.
8. Your energy will be increased
Your brain is most likely working extra hard if your hearing loss is slowly advancing. That’s because your brain doesn’t recognize your ears aren’t working right, so it’s constantly trying to fill in the audio holes that your hearing impairment has produced. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost all the time.
When you get a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain a chance to relax and recharge. It won’t need to work as hard. With this, continuous exhaustion and fatigue will be decreased. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are stimulating for you with this enhanced energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more perceptive of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is recent, you might not yet have completely adjusted. Ordinarily, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. Before you look in your rearview mirror, you would usually hear the oncoming sirens.
You may presume certain situations are safe when, because you’re not aware of your hearing loss, or you’ve ignored it, they really aren’t. That can put you in some very dangerous situations.
Hearing aids will help regain that lost awareness. So you’ll be able to make smarter, safer choices.
10. You will set a good example!
The one thing that can be even harder than change is personal growth. When you get a hearing aid, you’re acknowledging that something isn’t necessarily working right anymore. But you’re improving yourself as well.
That’s a positive thing! It’s the kind of thing we should all work for! So when you put in your hearing aids, you’re setting yourself up as a positive example and role model. You should be proud of yourself.
Have your hearing checked as soon as you can
The main benefit of hearing aids is that you get to experience hearing better. That goes without saying. But as you know, there are lots of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is in no way exhaustive.
You may have an entirely 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 tested.