Hearing loss affects many older people around the world. About a third of people over 65 suffer from hearing loss. This figure rises to 1 in 2 people over the age of 75 who suffer from hearing loss. Despite this large number, many older people still do not have hearing aids for seniors on medicare! Not only does hearing loss make it harder to talk, but it has also been linked to depression and dementia. Therefore, treating hearing loss is more important than you might think.
The link between hearing loss, depression, and dementia.
A study from the University of Michigan looked at the link between hearing loss, depression, and dementia. These three conditions are common among older people, and the study wanted to understand the relationship between them. Untreated hearing loss increases the risk of depression and dementia as you age. While hearing aids can’t completely stop you from developing depression or dementia, the good news is that wearing quality hearing aids for seniors can lower your risk of developing both conditions.
Wearing hearing aids for seniors can play an important role.
The study looked at data from more than 115,000 participants in the United States aged 66 and older. All of the participants suffered from hearing loss. Some wore hearing aids to treat their hearing loss, while others chose to live with untreated hearing loss. The researchers looked at data from a year before each participant was diagnosed with hearing loss. They then followed the data for the next 4 years to see if people with hearing loss were at a higher risk for depression or dementia after their hearing loss was diagnosed. Researchers have found that people with untreated hearing loss have several negative consequences on their health. People with untreated hearing loss were more likely to be diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder within years of being diagnosed with hearing loss. They also had a much higher incidence of dementia than people without hearing loss.
Look at the numbers.
The study also followed older people who used hearing aids to treat their hearing loss. Wearing hearing aids has many positive health consequences. Here’s what the researchers found when they looked at data collected three years after hearing loss was diagnosed.
- Wearing hearing aids can reduce the risk of depression by 11%.
- Wearing hearing aids can reduce your risk of falling by 13%.
- Wearing hearing aids can reduce cognitive decline.
- Wearing hearing aids can reduce your risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease by 18%.
- Figures show that people with untreated hearing loss have an increased risk of depression and dementia.
What is the link?
Depression
Hearing loss can make it difficult to communicate with family and friends. You can be sad after conversations and feel left out at social gatherings. Do you keep asking people to get back together? Are you pretending to hear something when you really can’t hear any comments? People who are hard of hearing often find it difficult to stay in touch with loved ones and feel isolated and alone. This increases the risk of anxiety and depression.
Dementia
Untreated hearing loss affects your brain more than you think. When you have hearing loss, it takes all of your energy to hear what people are saying to you. You don’t have enough brainpower to understand what is being said or to perform other cognitive tasks. This hearing fatigue can damage your brain, increase cognitive decline, and increase your risk for developing dementia.
Why treat your hearing loss?
Studies have shown that only 12% of people with hearing loss invest in hearing aids for seniors! If you are wary of treating your hearing loss, remember that treating your hearing loss will lower your risk for depression and even dementia. As you can see, wearing hearing aids for seniors can have a big impact on your overall health and keep you happy and healthy as you age.
hearing aids for seniors are safer.
Especially for older people, their ability to move around on their own is a central aspect of daily life. It is a prerequisite for independent and autonomous participation in social life. Many older adults, especially in rural areas, rely on their cars. Visiting friends, attending cultural events, shopping, and doctor’s appointments – all of these are more difficult to manage without a car. Similar to the ear. It is true that important information in road traffic is received mainly through the eyes, so hearing impairment does not usually constitute a lack of intelligence for a driver’s license. Nevertheless, age-related hearing loss in road traffic can still cause problems. For example, warning signals such as sirens, horns, or bicycle bells can be difficult to hear and locate. In some cases, driving noises from your own car or control signals from directional indicators will no longer be heard. All of this leads to uncertainty in traffic. But it’s not just drivers. The lack of perception of acoustic stimuli can also have fatal consequences for pedestrians and cyclists. Since hearing loss is a gradual process, many people are not even aware of their hearing loss. With hearing aids for seniors, you can restore most of your quality of life. Find out all about versatile models, the prices of hearing aids, and how to get a subsidy to save on your purchase in our guide. In addition, we’ll introduce you to the many options for adapting modern hearing aids and accessories to your everyday life.