Hearing Aids Can Be a Valuable Investment for Your Long-Term Health

Only 20 percent of Americans who could benefit from hearing aids wear them, according to the National Institutes of Health. Among the most common reasons that people gave for delaying the decision, the top responses cited by Consumer Reports were:
- Concerns regarding the cost (42%)
- Haven’t had their hearing tested (26%)
- Embarrassed to wear one (18%)
- Wearing aids caused physical discomfort (12%)
- A friend or family member did poorly with one (10%)
Unfortunately, untreated hearing loss affects a lot more than just the ability to clearly recognize sounds. The associated health risks can include problems with walking, an increased risk for falls, and various forms of cognitive decline such as dementia.
“Brain scans show us that hearing loss may contribute to a faster rate of atrophy in the brain,” says Dr. Frank Lin of Johns Hopkins University. “Hearing loss also contributes to social isolation. You may not want to be with people as much, and when you are, you may not engage in conversation…These factors may contribute to dementia.”
Dr. Lin’s research has also shown that mild hearing loss doubled dementia risk, moderate loss tripled the risk, and people with a severe hearing impairment were five times more likely to develop dementia.
The good news is that hearing aids don’t have to be burdensome, and in just the past few years, the technology has advanced to the point where today’s options are sleeker, more discreet, and provide much better filtering of unwanted background noises.
Newer models can also allow direct wireless streaming from mobile devices, televisions and small microphones.
While modern hearing aids can run over $3,000 per ear (even with insurance), it’s important to remember that they can be a crucial investment for your long-term health. The research clearly shows that the earlier you or a loved one sees a hearing specialist, the far better the outcomes.
For more information about Chestnut Square’s vibrant senior living community, please visit www.ChestnutSquare.info









