Hearing loss can seriously effect how you live, even when it’s minor. The way you interact with friends, coworkers, and family members can change dramatically. Daily activities like going to the grocery store can become more challenging. But that doesn’t mean it has to be all doom and gloom. Quite the opposite, a well calibrated set of hearing aids can make a huge difference.
Hearing aids improve your ability to hear, and that’s normally how most individuals think of them. And that’s true. But how do hearing aids better quality of life? What further advantages will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We humans 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 here are the top ten advantages of using hearing aids.
1. Your relationships will get better
For any relationship to be strong, strong communication is essential. But when you have neglected hearing loss, communication can be a real challenge. With hearing aids, you’ll finally hear more than little bits of conversation. You’ll be able to follow along with the conversation and get the whole story.
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 general relationships, amongst 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
Shopping at the grocery store or going to a restaurant when you have neglected hearing loss can be an ordeal. Attempting to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be challenging when you can’t hear that well. But with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes much easier. You’ll have a lot more independence when you navigate the world around you.
Driving will also be safer. That’s because your hearing aids will increase your total situational awareness (more on that in a bit). You will be less anxious about doing things without help when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Consider this hypothetical situation: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss half of what’s discussed, you might not do your job quite as well. This can result in reduced job opportunities and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids firmly 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 improve your focus on work and put you in a stronger position to increase your income.
4. Your tinnitus symptoms will diminish
Tinnitus is one of those things that the majority of individuals have experienced now and again; it’s that buzzing or ringing in your ear. When you suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus can frequently be felt much more powerfully (there are a host of reasons for this, sometimes the tinnitus is only relatively louder because everything else is so quiet, for instance).
With a hearing aid, many individuals note that they experience reduced tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, 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 impairment and cognitive decline are strongly connected. Your risk of developing cognitive decline can be significantly elevated by ignoring hearing loss, for instance. Managing hearing loss appears to be helpful, even though there are many theories as to why. That’s why it’s not a good idea to forget to wear your hearing aid. You could be helping your brain health!
6. Music can once again be enjoyed
When you have hearing loss music is harder to hear clearly. That’s because one wavelength of sound normally goes before the others. Maybe you can’t hear low frequencies, for instance. Because of this, the song you once enjoyed might just sound… strange.
With your hearing aids, however, 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 only one or the other (or a garbled mess). Hearing your favorite band again can be incredibly enjoyable.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Being able to hear better and interact more completely will give you a boost of confidence. And confidence is a great thing.
This isn’t to say that hearing loss should take away your confidence. We’re simply saying that you might find yourself having a hard 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
Your brain is probably working overtime if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working correctly, so it’s constantly trying to fill in the audio gaps that your hearing loss has produced. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is struggling (and strained) almost constantly.
When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain an opportunity to slow down and recharge. It will have less work to accomplish. With this, continual exhaustion and weariness will be decreased. You’ll enjoy doing the things that are inspiring for you with this enhanced energy.
9. Being more aware of your surroundings will keep you safer
You might not have adapted to your hearing loss, particularly if it’s new. You’re used to being able to hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the street. You’re used to hearing the emergency siren before you check the rearview mirror.
If your hearing loss is recent, or you aren’t conscious of it, you may assume that some situations are safe when they actually aren’t. And that can be a dangerous proposition.
Hearing aids will help regain that lost awareness. Your decision making will be wiser and safer.
10. You will set a good example!
The one thing that can be even more difficult than change is personal growth. When you get a hearing aid, you’re admitting that something isn’t necessarily working right anymore. But you’re also attempting to improve the situation.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the sort of thing we should all strive for! So you’re becoming a role model and a positive example when you use your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Get your hearing tested today
When you wear hearing aids you will hear better and that’s the biggest advantage. That one’s obvious. 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 advantages.
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.