Even when it’s fairly mild, hearing loss can have a big impact on your life. There will be a dramatic change in the way you communicate with family, friends, and coworkers. It can become a challenge to perform day-to-day activities like going shopping. But it doesn’t need to have this type of negative impact on you. If you use a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a huge difference.
Most individuals normally think of those benefits in a very linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. But how do hearing aids improve quality of life? Just how far do the advantages of hearing aids go?
Hearing aid’s top ten advantages
It’s sort of amazing, isn’t it, how humans can so frequently produce top ten lists for everything? When you got 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 advantages of using hearing aids.
1. Your relationships will improve
Great communication is crucial to any good relationship. But when you have neglected hearing loss, communication can be challenging. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the whole story, and you’ll be able to keep up with the conversation.
This also means you won’t feel excluded from the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations go on without you. So your overall relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and loved ones, will improve. There is a strong link between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you have untreated hearing loss, tasks like shopping or dining out can be a real ordeal. Trying to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be tricky when you can’t hear that well. But with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes a lot easier. You’ll have a lot more independence when you navigate the world around you.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your overall situational awareness will be improved by your hearing aids. When you hear more of the world, you’ll be able to do more on your own, and you’ll be able to do it without as much anxiety.
3. Stronger hearing could result in higher pay
Let’s toss out a hypothetical: if you’re missing large portions of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your work performance will be affected negatively. This can lead to lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
When you’re wearing properly tuned hearing aids, you will be less fatigued from straining to hear, and keeping up with those meetings will be a lot easier. By doing this you can have a chance to boost your income by improving your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have reduced tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that the majority of individuals have experienced from time to time; it’s that buzzing or ringing in your ear. Tinnitus symptoms will commonly be more extreme and frequent with hearing loss (there are a host of explanations 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 use a hearing aid. The louder overall outside sound supplied by the hearing aid may be, in some cases, just drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But relief is relief.
5. Reduced risk of cognitive decline
Hearing loss and cognitive issues are definitely linked. For example, untreated hearing loss can significantly elevate your chance of developing dementia. Treating hearing loss seems to be helpful, even though there are numerous theories as to why. That’s why it’s essential to be sure you wear your hearing aids. You could be helping your brain health!
6. You can appreciate music again
When you have hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to effect one frequency of sound first, then another. Maybe you’re unable to hear low frequencies, for example. The music you used to like, consequently, may sound… different.
You will be able to enjoy music again with your hearing aids filling in the missing sound. You’ll hear all of the wavelengths and your music won’t sound so muffled. Hearing your favorite band again can be extremely enjoyable.
7. Your confidence will grow
Your confidence will be enhanced when you can hear better and have more effective interactions. And who doesn’t like confidence?
We’re not suggesting that you shouldn’t have confidence just because you have hearing loss. We’re just saying that you may find yourself having a difficult time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
A hearing aid can make those interactions easier again. And that can lead to a boost in confidence.
8. You’ll have more energy
If your hearing impairment has been gradually advancing, your brain has most likely been working harder. The audio gaps that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t understand that your ears aren’t functioning. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost all the time.
Your brain gets to refresh and unwind when you use a hearing aid. It won’t have to work as hard. Which means you won’t feel so continually 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 perceptive of your environment
You might not have adjusted to your hearing loss, particularly if it’s recent. Ordinarily, you would hear approaching traffic before you step out into the street. You’re used to hearing the ambulance siren before you look in the rearview mirror.
If your hearing loss is new, or you aren’t conscious of it, you may assume that some situations are safe when they actually aren’t. That can put you in some really unsafe scenarios.
This lost awareness will be restored by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be smarter and less hazardous.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
Change can be difficult, and personal growth still harder. You’re acknowledging that things aren’t functioning effectively now when you invest in a hearing aid. But you’re also attempting to improve the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the type of thing we should all strive for! So you’re acting as a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Schedule an appointment for a hearing assessment right away
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That one’s obvious. But there are lots of advantages to using hearing aids. This top ten list is only that, one little list of just ten of these advantages.
You might have an entirely different top ten list. Making an appointment with us for a hearing assessment is the first step no matter what benefits you look forward to.
