Happy May! And by that I mean happy Better Hearing & Speech Month! The goal of Better Hearing & Speech Month is to encourage people to take action if they believe there might be a problem with their hearing or speech.
If you are one of the nearly 48 million people in Mechanicsburg and around the country with hearing loss, it may come as no surprise that people often put off seeking treatment. In fact, the average time a person waits to seek treatment is seven years. Why? There are a number of reasons but money is definitely one of them.
Your Mechanicsburg audiologist is here to tell you that you will gain a lot more than simply an improved ability to hear by investing in your hearing health.
Below are the top four reasons why you should invest in a hearing aid.
Improved General Health
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to a number of complications, including:
- Feelings of depression
- Feelings of anger
- Feelings of anxiety
- Cognitive decline
- Physical injuries, specifically falls
This last point should be taken very seriously as falls are the leading cause of death from injury among people 65 and older. Those who treat their hearing loss typically see an improvement in their 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
Those who cannot hear find it harder to navigate the world on their own. They often find themselves relying on others for help.
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 Mechanicsburg 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
Concentrating and communicating is often more difficulty for those with untreated hearing loss. It should come as no surprise that these skills play a large roll in doing your job. Those with untreated hearing loss may see a reduction in job performance and less monetary compensation.
In fact, new research suggests that untreated hearing loss may make learning new things harder, which can lead to problems storing new information.
These talking points about the benefits of treating your hearing loss should help you spread the message of Better Hearing & Speech Month.
To learn more, contact your Mechanicsburg audiologist today.
