Even when it’s relatively mild, hearing loss can have a big impact on your life. The way you interact with friends, coworkers, and loved ones can change dramatically. Everyday tasks like going to the grocery store can grow more challenging. But that doesn’t mean it has to be all doom and gloom. On the contrary, a well calibrated pair of hearing aids can make a huge difference.
Most people tend to think of those benefits in a very linear sort of way: Hearing aids help you hear better. And that’s true. 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
It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it, how humans can so often come up with top ten lists for anything? When you woke up today, did you think you’d be reading a top ten list about hearing aids? (I mean, if you’ve been aware of your hearing loss for a while… maybe you did!)
So, what are the top ten benefits associated with wearing your hearing aid? Here they are!
1. Your relationships will improve
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 the whole thing–you’ll get the full 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 continue without you. So your overall relationships–among your friends, co-workers, and loved ones–will improve. The connection 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 have 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 with a pair of hearing aids, the whole process suddenly becomes much easier. You can navigate much more independently.
You’ll also be in a better position to drive safely. That’s because your hearing aids will improve your overall situational awareness (more on that in a bit). When you hear more of the world, you’ll be able to do more on your own–and you’ll be able to do it without as much anxiety.
3. Better hearing may lead to higher income
Let’s throw out a hypothetical: if you’re in a meeting at work and miss half of what’s said, you may not perform your job quite as well. This can lead to passed promotions or even dicey job prospects. (We should emphasize here that the legality of this is not what we’re weighing in on–just because it happens doesn’t make it right or, you know, legal.)
With your hearing aids firmly in place and working properly, you’ll be able to keep up with meetings–and you won’t be so tired all the time from straining to hear. This can improve 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 people have experienced from time to time; it’s that ringing or buzzing in your ear. When you have hearing loss, tinnitus can often be felt much more intensely (there are a host of reasons for this–sometimes the tinnitus is just relatively noisier because everything else is so quiet, for example).
With a hearing aid, many people note that they experience reduced tinnitus symptoms. In these cases, that’s often because the hearing aid is drowning out the sound of the tinnitus. But relief is relief. And the less tinnitus you experience, the better.
5. Lower risk of cognitive decline
Hearing loss and cognitive issues are strongly linked. For example, untreated hearing loss can seriously raise your risk of developing dementia. There are many theories about why this might be, but the bottom line is that treating your hearing loss seems to help! That’s why it’s important to make sure you wear your hearing aids. You could be helping your brain health!
Treated hearing loss often results in a lower risk of dementia, depression, and other mental health issues. So do your brain a favor and pop those hearing aids in!
6. You can enjoy music again
It’s hard to appreciate music–in its full entirety–when you have hearing loss. That’s because hearing loss tends to impact one wavelength of sound first, then another. For example, you might be unable to hear low frequencies. As a result, the song you used to enjoy might just sound… weird.
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 just 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
Being able to hear better and interact more thoroughly will give you a boost of confidence. And who doesn’t like confidence?
This is not to say that hearing loss should rob you of your confidence. It’s just that–especially if that hearing loss is new–you may suddenly find it challenging to interact with others in the same ways you always have.
A hearing aid can make those interactions easier again. And that can lead to improved confidence.
8. You’ll have more energy
If your hearing loss has been slowly progressing, your brain has likely been working overtime. That’s because your brain doesn’t know your ears aren’t working right, so it’s constantly trying to fill in the audio holes that your hearing loss has created. That’s… a lot of work! And it means that your brain is working (and strained) almost constantly.
When you get a hearing aid, you’re giving your brain a chance to relax and recharge. It won’t have to work so hard. Which means you won’t feel so constantly tired and drained. You’ll have more energy to do the things you enjoy doing!
9. You’ll be safer and more aware of your surroundings
If your hearing loss is new, you may not yet have fully adapted. You’re used to hearing traffic before you step out into the street. You’re used to hearing the ambulance siren before you look in the rearview mirror. And you’re used to hearing the bears growl before you step off the hiking path (this is a metaphor, mostly.)
If your hearing loss is new–or you aren’t aware of it–you may assume that some situations are safe when they really aren’t. And that can be a dangerous proposition.
Hearing aids will help restore that lost awareness. So you’ll be able to make wiser, safer decisions.
10. You’ll be a positive example!
Change can be hard, and personal growth harder still. When you get a hearing aid, you’re admitting that something isn’t necessarily working right anymore. But you’re also trying to improve the situation.
That’s a good thing! It’s the kind of thing we should all strive for! So when you pop 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.)
Get Your Hearing Checked Today
The primary benefit of hearing aids is that you get to enjoy hearing better. That goes without saying. But as you can tell, there are tons of immediate benefits of hearing aids! This top ten list is just that–one little list of only ten of these benefits.
Your top ten list might look a little different. No matter what benefits you look forward to the most, the first step is making an appointment with a hearing specialist to have your hearing checked.
Find hearing aid professionals in your area by searching providers near you.
