The Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
When someone develops hearing loss, it affects their entire life. People rarely realize just how important their hearing is. While conditions like heart disease and cancer get a lot of attention, people forget to consider how hearing loss can affect their overall quality of life.
Often, people will become socially isolated if they are unable to hear the people they are talking to. They may give up on making friends because they are tired of asking people to repeat questions or comments. Without the right social support network, people can end up suffering from emotional and physical issues.
Sometimes, people do not treat their hearing loss because of the cost of hearing aids. Other people are just unaware of how hearing loss affects them. No matter what the cause is, treating hearing loss will provide cognitive, emotional, social and financial benefits.
The Prevalence of Hearing Loss
One out of eight people has hearing loss in both ears in the United States. Today, an estimated 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. Out of that number, only 20 percent of the people who need treatment actually end up getting the help they need.
The Social Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
There are a number of social benefits involved in getting treatment. When someone has hearing loss, they may struggle to communicate with others. Some people will eventually give up on conversations because they cannot hear what everyone else is saying. Ultimately, this impacts the quality of their relationships. This communication issue also makes it harder to stay in touch with loved ones and enjoy strong relationships.
One study shows that people are happier, healthier and wealthier if they treat their hearing loss. By fixing your hearing problem, you make it easier to talk to other people and stay active. In addition, better hearing reduces the chances that someone will become socially isolated.
The Emotional Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss can lead to mental and emotional consequences. An estimated 50 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, which is a kind of ringing in the ears. This condition typically occurs when someone has hearing loss. By correcting the problem, individuals can reduce the annoyance and stress they experience because of their condition.
Some of the emotional benefits happen because people are able to socialize normally when they can actually hear. They also face less anxiety about social situations. In addition, some of the side effects of hearing loss like fewer job prospects can also result in emotional consequences. If someone cannot get a job or make friends, it is only natural that they would be more prone to conditions like depression or anxiety. Plus, many studies show that there is a positive impact on family relationships when someone fixes their hearing.
The Cognitive Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
When someone improves their hearing, they are more likely to enjoy better health. They are also less likely to suffer from mental and physical exhaustion. In addition, studies show that people who use hearing aids are more likely to have better memory and sleep quality than non-users. They also have lower rates of depression.
In one study by John Hopkins Medicine, researchers found that hearing loss contributed to a faster rate of brain atrophy. Researchers found that people with mild hearing loss had double the risk of developing dementia. People who had moderate hearing loss had triple the risk. Finally, individuals with severe hearing impairment had five times the normal risk of developing dementia.
The higher risk of dementia may be due to the social isolation that frequently occurs because of hearing loss. A lack of socialization and conversation may contribute to someone developing dementia. Since your ears use subtle cues as you walk to help you balance, untreated hearing loss can even make it harder to walk safely.
The Financial Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss
The rate of unemployment is twice as high among non-users of hearing aids than it is among people who use hearing aids. Some evidence also indicates that people who have hearing loss earn significantly less than the average person who has normal hearing. Other studies have also shown that colleagues who treat their hearing loss end up earning more than their colleagues who have untreated hearing loss. This may be because the group with improved hearing is able to be more aware in the workplace and more capable of communicating with their colleagues. By treating hearing loss, people can be more productive at work and increase their earnings.