Hearing loss can really impact the way you live, even when it’s mild. There will be a significant change in the way you connect with loved ones, friends, and coworkers. It can become a challenge to complete daily activities such as going shopping. But it doesn’t need to have this kind of negative impact on you. Quite the opposite, a well adjusted pair of hearing aids can make a big difference.
Most individuals tend to think of those benefits in a very linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s not untrue. But how do hearing aids enhance quality of life? What further advantages will hearing aids deliver?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We people just love creating 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 known about your hearing loss for a while… perhaps you did!
So, what are the top ten advantages associated with using your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. You will have better relationships.
Great communication is critical to any good relationship. But communication can be difficult when you have untreated hearing loss. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little snippets of conversation. You’ll hear everything, you’ll get the whole story, and you’ll be capable of keeping up with the conversation.
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 link between hearing aids and relationships is a strong one!
2. You’ll have greater independence
Shopping at the grocery store or going to a restaurant when you’re dealing with untreated hearing loss can feel like an ordeal. When you can’t hear all that well, communicating with wait staff or cashiers can be tricky. But the whole process becomes easier when you use hearing aids. You can get around much more independently.
Driving will also be less hazardous. 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 by yourself, and you’ll be able to do it with less anxiety.
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 discussed, you may not do your job adequately. This can lead to lost promotions or even dicey job prospects.
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 straining to hear. By doing this you can have an opportunity to raise your income by increasing your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have diminished tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that most individuals have experienced from time to time; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. Tinnitus symptoms will commonly be more intense and more often with hearing loss (there are a host of explanations for this, sometimes the tinnitus is only relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for instance).
Many individuals report that their tinnitus symptoms decrease when they wear a hearing aid. In these instances, that’s because the hearing aid is overpowering the sound of the tinnitus. But we will take relief where we can get it, right?
5. Less chance of developing dementia
Hearing loss and cognitive issues are strongly connected. For example, neglected hearing loss can significantly raise your chance of developing dementia. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, even though 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 giving your brain a greater chance of remaining healthy longer.
6. You can appreciate music again
When you suffer from hearing loss music is harder to hear clearly. That’s because hearing loss is likely to impact one frequency of sound first, then another. For example, you may be unable to hear low frequencies. Because of this, the song you used to enjoy might just sound… strange.
You will be able to appreciate music again with your hearing aids filling in the missing sound. 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. Your confidence will grow
Being able to hear better and interact more completely will boost your confidence. And confidence is a great thing.
This isn’t to say that hearing impairment should rob you of your confidence. We’re simply saying that you may find yourself having a difficult time interacting with others, particularly if your hearing loss is new.
Those connections can become easier again with hearing aids. And when that happens, confidence will grow.
8. You’ll have more energy
Your brain is probably working overtime if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. The audio gaps 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 it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost all the time.
When you get a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain the opportunity to slow down and refresh. It will have less work to do. Which means you won’t feel so consistently tired and depleted. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are inspiring for you with this increased energy.
9. Being more conscious of your surroundings will keep you safer
You might not have adjusted to your hearing loss, especially if it’s recent. Ordinarily, you would hear approaching traffic before you step out into the street. Before you look in your rearview mirror, you would normally hear the oncoming sirens.
You might assume certain situations are safe when, because you’re not aware of your hearing loss, or you’ve ignored it, they actually aren’t. And that can be a hazardous proposition.
This lost awareness will be restored by using hearing aids. Your decision making will be wiser and safer.
10. You will set a good example!
Change can be difficult, and personal growth still harder. You’re admitting that things aren’t functioning properly now when you invest in a hearing aid. But you’re also trying to improve the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! We should all strive for this type of thing, right? So when you put 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 assessment right away
The main advantage 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 only that, one little list of just ten of these benefits.
You may have a totally 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.
