Hearing loss can seriously impact how you live, even when it’s minor. The way you communicate with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change drastically. It can become a challenge to complete day-to-day 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 individuals usually think of those benefits in a really linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s not untrue. But how do hearing aids enhance quality of life? Just how far do the advantages of hearing aids go?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
It’s sort of fascinating, isn’t it, how humans can so often 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? Well, perhaps you did if you’ve been dealing with your hearing loss for a while.
So here are the top ten advantages of using hearing aids.
1. You will have better relationships.
Great communication is critical to any great relationship. But when you have untreated hearing loss, communication can be challenging. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the whole conversation without losing anything. You’ll be able to follow along with the conversation and get the whole story.
This also means you won’t feel left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations carry on without you. So your general relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and family members, will improve. There is a strong link between relationships and hearing aids!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss, activities such as shopping or dining out can be a real ordeal. Attempting to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be difficult when you can’t hear that well. But with a pair of hearing aids, the entire 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 overall situational awareness will be increased by your hearing aids. When you hear more of the world, you’ll be capable of doing more by yourself, and you’ll be able to do it with less anxiety.
3. Stronger hearing could lead to higher income
Consider this hypothetical situation: if you’re missing large parts of what’s being discussed during meetings at work, your job performance will be affected negatively. 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 keep up with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from struggling to hear. This can boost your focus on work and put you in a better position to grow your income.
4. You’ll have reduced tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that most individuals have experienced now and again; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. Tinnitus symptoms will frequently be more intense and frequent with hearing loss (there are a host of explanations for this, sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for example).
Many individuals report that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they use a hearing aid. The louder overall outside sound provided by the hearing aid may be, in some situations, simply drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But relief is relief.
5. Reduced chance of cognitive decline
There is a solid link between mental decline and hearing impairment. Your chance of developing cognitive decline can be seriously increased by disregarding hearing loss, for example. Managing hearing loss seems to be helpful, although there are many theories as to why. That’s why it’s essential to make sure you use your hearing aids. You could be helping the health of your brain!
6. Music can once again be enjoyed
When you suffer from hearing loss music is more difficult to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss tends to impact one frequency of sound first, then another. Maybe you can’t hear low frequencies, for example. The music you used to like, as a result, may sound… different.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing gaps 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 just one or the other (or a garbled mess). Hearing your favorite song again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get an increase in confidence
Being able to hear better and interact more thoroughly will give you a boost of confidence. And confidence is a wonderful thing.
This is not to say that hearing impairment should rob you of your confidence. We’re simply saying that you might find yourself having a difficult time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
A hearing aid can make those connections easier again. And that can result in a boost in confidence.
8. Your energy will be higher
Your brain is probably working overtime if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. The audio holes that your hearing loss is creating will try to be filled in by your brain because it doesn’t know that your ears aren’t functioning. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost all the time.
Your brain gets to recharge and unwind when you use a hearing aid. It will have less work to do. Which means you won’t feel so constantly tired and drained. You’ll have more vitality to do the things you love to do!
9. Being more mindful of your surroundings will keep you safer
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have fully adjusted. Usually, you would hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. You’re used to hearing the ambulance siren before you check the rearview mirror.
You may assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re unaware of your hearing loss, or you’ve neglected it, they actually aren’t. That can put you in some really dangerous situations.
This lost awareness will be recovered by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be wiser and less hazardous.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
The one thing that can be even harder than change is personal growth. When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re admitting that something isn’t necessarily working properly anymore. But you’re also attempting to better the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the kind of thing we should all strive for! So when you put in your hearing aids, you’re making yourself a positive example and role model. You should be proud of yourself.
Schedule a hearing exam right away
When you wear hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the primary advantage. That one’s obvious. But there are lots of benefits to using hearing aids. This top ten list is in no way complete.
Your top ten list may look a little different. No matter what benefits you look forward to the most, the first step is scheduling an appointment with us to have your hearing tested.