It is May! And that also means it is time for Better Hearing & Speech Month. The goal of this month-long event is to encourage people to share information with others and take action if they believe there might be a problem with their hearing or speech.
There are more than 48 million people with hearing loss in Portland and throughout the country. It may surprise you that only 20% of those individuals who could benefit from the use of a hearing aid actually use one.
So the question is why? There are a number of reasons but money is up there on the list.
Your Portland audiologist is here to tell you that treating your hearing loss with hearing aids can do more than simply improve your ability to hear.
Below are the top four reasons why you should invest in a hearing aid.
Improved General Health
Untreated hearing loss has been found to increase feelings of depression, anger and anxiety. It can also increase your risk of cognitive decline and physical injuries, specifically falls.
Falls should be taken especially seriously as they are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 and older. Treating your hearing loss with a hearing aid can improve your balance.
Improved Quality of Life
A study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) surveyed 2,000 individuals with hearing loss. Researchers found that in addition to seeing improvements in their ability to communicate, those who used a hearing aid saw an increase in their:
- Romance
- Sense of Humor
- Mental Health
- Emotional Health
- Physical Health
- Sense of Safety
- Self-Confidence
- Feelings about Self
- Sense of Independence
- Work Relationships
Improved Emotional Well-being
Untreated hearing loss can increase your reliance on others. This can make it more difficult to navigate the world on your own. Getting a hearing aid can help you regain your independence and sense of control. It can also reduce periods of social isolation and lead to healthier and longer-lasting relationships.
Your Portland audiologist confirms that patients who choose to use a hearing aid to treat their hearing loss have higher self-esteem and a better quality of life than those who don’t.
Improved Professional Success
Untreated hearing loss can make concentrating and communicating more difficult. This may be why those who do not treat their hearing loss see a reduction in their job performance and less monetary compensation.
New research suggests that untreated hearing loss may make learning new things harder, which can lead to problems storing new information.
To learn more about the benefits of a hearing aid, contact your Portland audiologist today.