WHILE MOST PATIENTS diagnosed with hearing loss are eager to treat it, others question the need for improved hearing since they live a quiet and private lifestyle. At Precision Hearing, we often find ourselves faced with questions such as “I live alone and don’t go out much—why would I need hearing devices?” or “What is the point of hearing if no one else is around?”
These same arguments also come from “part-time” hearing aid patients who choose to only wear their hearing devices for family gatherings and social engagements.
Why Wear Hearing Devices?
One significant study shows that wearing hearing devices can help slow cognitive decline in elderly patients. 1 Because our brains are designed to hear sound and process it as we go throughout our day, denying our brain of even soft environmental sounds robs it of important opportunities to process and relearn sound. Over time, untreated hearing loss may result in inadequate brain stimulation, leading to cognitive decline.
The study also revealed that patients who wear hearing devices are less likely to be depressed and more likely to be socially engaged and self-confident in their communication abilities. Social engagement and physical activity help stave off cognitive decline and dementia.
Therefore, it is essential that those with hearing loss wear hearing aids all day, every day—regardless of their lifestyle.
How We Can Help
If challenges with your hearing devices are preventing you from wearing them all day, call us at (352) 765-8008 to schedule an appointment and we will troubleshoot the issue.
1 Maharani, A., Dawes, P., et al. (2018). Longitudinal relationship between hearing aid use and cognitive function in older Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society