Even when it’s relatively mild, hearing loss can have a huge impact on your life. The way you interact with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change dramatically. Everyday tasks like going to the supermarket can grow more challenging. But that doesn’t mean it needs to be all doom and gloom. If you utilize a well calibrated hearing aid, it can make a big 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 is the quality of life enhanced? What further benefits will hearing aids create?
The top ten reasons to get hearing aids
We humans 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. Well, maybe you did if you’ve been coping with your hearing loss for a while.
So here are the top ten advantages of wearing hearing aids.
1. Your relationships will get better
For any relationship to be strong, good communication is indispensable. But communication can be challenging when you have untreated hearing loss. But when you use hearing aids, you’ll be capable of hearing the entire conversation without losing anything. You’ll be able to keep up 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 go on without you. So your general relationships, among your friends, co-workers, and loved ones, will improve. The connection between hearing aids and relationships is a powerful one!
2. You’ll be more independent
When you have neglected hearing loss, activities such as shopping or eating out can be a real ordeal. Trying to communicate with wait staff and cashiers can be challenging when you can’t hear that well. But the overall process gets easier when you have hearing aids. You can navigate much more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your overall situational awareness will be enhanced by your hearing aids. You won’t be as anxious about doing things by yourself when you’re able to hear the world more clearly.
3. You could make more money
Consider this hypothetical scenario: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss a lot of what’s discussed, you may not perform your job quite as well. This can lead to diminished job opportunities and being passed-up for promotions.
With your hearing aids firmly in place and working correctly, you’ll be able to follow along with meetings, and you won’t be so tired all the time from struggling to hear. By doing this you can have a chance to raise your income by increasing your ability to focus on work.
4. You’ll have reduced tinnitus symptoms
Tinnitus is one of those things that most individuals have experienced from time to time; it’s that buzzing or ringing in your ear. When you suffer from hearing loss, tinnitus can often be felt much more intensely (tinnitus is sometimes more noticeable with hearing loss simply because everything else is quieter, but there may also be other reasons too).
With a hearing aid, many people note that they experience decreased tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, that’s because the hearing aid is overpowering the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief.
5. Decreased risk of mental decline
There is a firm connection between mental decline and hearing loss. Your chance of developing dementia can be seriously increased by neglecting hearing loss, for example. There are many hypotheses about why this may be, but the end result is that treating your hearing loss seems to be helpful! That’s why it’s important to make sure you wear your hearing aids. You could be helping the health of your brain!
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’re unable to hear low frequencies, for example. The music you used to like, as a result, may sound… different.
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 muffled mess). It can be an amazing relief to hear your favorite song again.
7. You’ll get a boost of confidence
Having better hearing and interacting more completely will give you a boost of confidence. And confidence is a great thing.
We’re not implying that you shouldn’t be confident just because you have hearing loss. It’s just that, especially if that hearing loss is recent, you could suddenly find it a challenge to interact with people in the same ways you usually do.
A hearing aid can make those connections easier again. And that can result in improved confidence.
8. You’ll have more energy
Your brain is most likely working overtime if your hearing loss is gradually advancing. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working right, so it’s constantly trying to fill in the audio gaps that your hearing impairment has created. That’s hard work. And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost constantly.
When you get a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain an opportunity to slow down and refresh. It will have less work to do. Which means you won’t feel so consistently exhausted and drained. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love to do!
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is recent, you might not yet have entirely adjusted. You’re used to being able to hear oncoming traffic before you step out into the road. 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 might presume that some scenarios 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 safer.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
Change can be difficult, and personal growth still harder. When you invest in a hearing aid, you’re accepting that something isn’t actually working properly anymore. But you’re bettering yourself as well.
There’s nothing wrong with that! It’s the type of thing we should all strive for! So you’re becoming a role model and a positive example when you wear your hearing aids. You should be proud of yourself.
Schedule a hearing test right away
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That goes without saying. But there are lots of advantages to using hearing aids. This top ten list is only that, one little list of only ten of these advantages.
You may have a completely different top ten list. Making an appointment with us for a hearing exam is the first step no matter what advantages you look forward to.