Trips to the ER cause you to miss work, and also personal pain. What if you could minimize ER trips and significantly decrease your chances of anxiety, depression, and even dementia.
Surfacing studies make the case that, for those with severe hearing loss, using their hearing aid could be the difference between staying connected and healthy and winding up spending many evenings in the emergency room.
The Research
This University of Michigan study gathered participants which ranged from 65-85. Extreme hearing loss was a common condition between them. But out of all of those people who participated, only 45% of them used their hearing aids regularly.
This is on par with similar studies which have found that only around 30% of people who have hearing aids actually use them.
Of the 585 people in the group who did use their hearing aids, 12 fewer people found themselves in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This may seem like a small number. But statistically, this is substantial.
And there’s more. They also found that those who used their hearing aids spend, on average, one day fewer in the hospital. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which likely decreased their time in ER.
How Can ER Visits be Decreased by Wearing Hearing Aids?
First for the obvious one. You would be less likely to require emergency care if you were keeping up on your health.
Other studies have revealed that when individuals with hearing loss wear their hearing aids, they stay more connected to friends, family, and the community. When a person is socially connected they are normally more motivated to keep their appointments and also have more support from friends and family getting to the doctor.
And driving is less dangerous when you can hear, so you will have more confidence if you are getting yourself to your appointment.
One study conducted in the U.S. discovered that depression is two times as likely in people who don’t use their hearing aid. Depression can result in a lack of self-care, which can lead to health problems.
The third thing is, numerous studies have revealed that using your hearing aid can decrease fall risk and cognitive decline. The part of the brain that’s used for hearing will begin to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. The rest of the brain is eventually impacted. As this occurs, people frequently experience dementia symptoms and the disorientation and lack of balance associated with falls.
Falls are one of the major causes of death among those over 65, and the consequent hospital stays last twice as long.
Hearing aids reduce visits to the ER for these reasons amongst others.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many People Neglect?
It’s difficult to come up with a legitimate excuse.
Some don’t wear them because they think that hearing aids make them appear older than they actually are. 25% of people over 65 and 50% of people over 75 have hearing loss and yet this notion of looking old with hearing aids persists. Hearing loss isn’t unusual. It’s common. And thanks to the increase in noise pollution and earbud usage, hearing loss is increasing among people in their twenties.
Ironically, constantly asking people to repeat themselves often makes a person appear a lot older than they are.
Cost is often noted as a worry. However, the price of hearing aids has come down in just the past few years, and there are financing options available.
Some people don’t like the way hearing aids sound. This can typically be fixed by simply consulting your hearing specialist to learn how to more successfully use your hearing aid in various settings. Hearing aids can require several fittings before they are just right.
Schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.