Even when it’s relatively mild, hearing loss can have a huge impact on your life. There will be a considerable change in the way you connect with family, friends, and coworkers. It can become a challenge to perform daily tasks such as going shopping. But it doesn’t have to have this type of negative impact on you. Quite the opposite, a well calibrated pair of hearing aids can make a huge difference.
Hearing aids help you hear better, and that’s generally how most individuals think of them. And that’s not untrue. But how do hearing aids improve quality of life? Just how far do the benefits of hearing aids go?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We people just love making top ten lists. I bet you didn’t think you would be reading a top ten list about hearing aids when you woke up this morning. I mean, if you’ve been aware of your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So, what are the top ten advantages associated with wearing your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. Your relationships will improve
For any relationship to be great, strong communication is indispensable. But communication can be difficult when you have neglected hearing loss. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the whole conversation without losing anything. 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 left out of the conversation, and you won’t feel resentful that the conversations go on without you. So you will have an improvement in your relationships with family, friends, and coworkers. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have more independence
When you’re dealing with neglected hearing loss, tasks such as shopping or dining out can be a real ordeal. When you’re unable to hear very well, communicating with wait staff or cashiers can be tricky. But with a set of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes much easier. You can get around much more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your general situational awareness will be enhanced by your hearing aids. You will be less anxious about doing things on your own when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Let’s toss out a hypothetical: if you’re attending a meeting at work and miss a lot of what’s said, you might not execute your job quite as well. This can result in lost promotions or even dicey job opportunities.
With your hearing aids securely in place and working correctly, you’ll be able to follow along with meetings, and you won’t be as tired all the time from struggling to hear. This can improve your focus on work and put you in a better position to grow your income.
4. You’ll have decreased tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is that buzzing or ringing in the ear that most of us have experienced now and then. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can often be experienced much more powerfully (there are a number of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for example).
Many people report that their tinnitus symptoms ease up when they wear a hearing aid. The louder overall outside sound supplied by the hearing aid might be, in some situations, simply drowning out the tinnitus symptoms. But we will take relief where we can get it, right?
5. Lower risk of mental decline
There is a firm connection between cognitive decline and hearing loss. Your chance of developing dementia can be seriously increased by ignoring hearing loss, for example. Treating hearing loss seems to be helpful, even though there are many theories as to why. That’s why it’s important to be certain you wear your hearing aids. You could be helping your brain health!
6. You can enjoy music again
It’s hard to appreciate music, in its full entirety, when you suffer from hearing loss. That’s because one frequency of sound typically goes before the others. Maybe you’re unable to hear low frequencies, for instance. As a result, the song you once enjoyed may just sound… weird.
With your hearing aids, though, those missing gaps in the music will be filled in, and you can appreciate music again! You’ll get the high notes and the low notes, instead of only one or the other (or a garbled mess). Hearing your favorite band again can be extremely enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Your confidence will be enhanced when you can hear better and have more successful interactions. And confidence is a wonderful thing.
This is not to say that hearing loss should take away your confidence. It’s just that, particularly if that hearing loss is recent, you could suddenly find it challenging to interact with others in the same ways you usually do.
Those connections can become easier again with hearing aids. And that can lead to a boost in confidence.
8. Your vitality will be higher
If your hearing impairment has been gradually progressing, your brain has most likely been working harder. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working right, so it’s continuously trying to fill in the audio holes that your hearing loss has produced. That’s… a lot of work! And so, your brain is under continual strain.
Your brain gets to recharge and unwind when you wear a hearing aid. It won’t have to work as hard. With this, persistent tiredness and weariness will be reduced. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are inspiring for you with this enhanced energy.
9. You’ll be safer and more mindful of your environment
You may not have adapted to your hearing loss, especially if it’s new. You’re used to being able to hear traffic before you step out into the road. You’re accustomed to hearing the emergency siren before you check the rearview mirror.
If your hearing loss is new, or you aren’t aware of it, you might assume that some situations are safe when they actually aren’t. And that can be a dangerous proposition.
Hearing aids will help restore that lost awareness. Your decision making will be wiser and less hazardous.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
Change can be tough, and personal growth still harder. You’re acknowledging that things aren’t working properly now when you invest in a hearing aid. But you’re also attempting to improve the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? So when you pop in your hearing aids, you’re setting yourself up as a positive example and role model. You should be proud of yourself.
Get your hearing tested as soon as you can
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to experience hearing better. That goes without saying. But there are plenty of benefits to using hearing aids. This top ten list is by no means complete.
Your top ten list may look a little different. Scheduling an appointment with us for a hearing exam is the first step no matter what benefits you look forward to.