If you’ve been told you have hearing loss, but you’re unsure about wearing hearing aids, know that untreated hearing loss can affect more than just your physical health. It can negatively affect your mental health too.

Here are 6 ways getting hearing aids for your hearing loss can help improve your mental health:

1. Hearing aids can reduce the risk of cognitive decline

A 25-year research study found that people who had hearing loss and decided not to use hearing aids showed major cognitive decline. One the other hand, people who has hearing loss and wore hearing aids displayed cognitive skills that matched their normal-hearing counterparts.

Another study at the University of Pennsylvania also showed that untreated hearing loss can speed up atrophy in the auditory areas of the brain. It made understanding speech more difficult which increases cognitive stress. Decreases in your cognitive capacity are linked to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

2. People with hearing aids report lower levels of depression

When more than 4000 people were surveyed in a research study, they found that people with hearing loss that wore hearing aids are less likely to perceive themselves as being depressed, compared to those with untreated hearing loss.

The study also found that those wearing hearing aids reported improvements in their physical, mental, social and emotional well being. They felt more socially involved and had more control over their own lives.

3. Hearing aids can improve your memory and mental acuity

A study at a Texas University ran assessment on participants with hearing loss by measuring their memory, focus ability, and mental sharpness before and after using hearing aids. The study found that most participants demonstrated improvements in their brain performance in all areas, after only 1.5 months of hearing aids use. The participants could also process information more quickly.

4. Hearing aids help you enjoy sounds that relieve stress

Wearing hearing aids your hearing loss means that you’ll be able to enjoy all kinds of relaxing sounds like bird chirping, ocean waves, river flowing and raindrops trickling. These sounds of nature can relieve stress and allow you to enjoy life more.

People with untreated hearing loss often report that they miss these sounds.

5. Hearing aids can improve your social life

Many people with untreated hearing loss often avoid social contacts because they have trouble understanding the conversations. Some couples start talking less to each other due to constant misunderstandings. When this is left unchecked, it can lead to loneliness, isolation and depression.

Research shows that healthy social connections can have a positive impact on your health. After people start using hearing aids, they are always happy that they can join and start conversations with their loved ones again.

6. Hearing aids can help you manage the stressful tinnitus

Tinnitus sufferers dreaded the ringing, buzzing and hissing sounds. Those sound that only you can hear can often lead to sleep troubles, focus difficulty, low work performance, irritability and fatigue.

Many hearing aids have tinnitus management programs built in now. Those with hearing loss are likely to have tinnitus too, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

What can you do to hear your best again?

We understand that hearing better is a process, and we want to guide you through it step by step. If you have hearing loss and it is affecting your mental health, contact us today. Our audiologist can learn more about your issues and inform you the best ways to help with your hearing health. It’s time to get rid of all the negative consequences, and welcome the positive benefits that healthy hearing will bring.