The top three physical conditions in Thousand Oaks and throughout the country are:
There are more than 48 million people currently suffering from some type of hearing loss. Of those millions of people, only 20 percent of those who could benefit from the use of a hearing aid actually use them.
Weird that someone would simply choose not to use a device that could help them deal with their medical condition. Why do you think that is? Your Simi Valley audiologist theorizes that patients fear that they will look old wearing a hearing aid and others will begin treating them differently. But don’t you think that asking people to repeat themselves and answering questions incorrectly because you could not hear them in the first time makes you seem much older?
Turns out, using a hearing aid can have a number of benefits outside of simply improving your ability to hear. If you are still skeptical about using a hearing aid, continue reading and let me know if these facts help you change your mind.
Improved General Health
Those who treat their hearing loss see an improvement in their balance and experience a decrease in:
- Feelings of Depression
- Anger
- Anxiety
Patients who decide not to treat their hearing loss are three times more likely to suffer physical injuries, especially falls. They are also at an increased risk of cognitive decline.
Improved Emotional Well-Being
Those who treat their hearing loss are once again able to navigate the world on their own and overcome a reliance on others, thus regaining their sense of control.
Treating your hearing loss leads to reduced periods of social isolation as well as healthier and longer-lasting relationships. These patients have also been shown to have higher self-esteem and quality of life than those who don’t.
Improved Professional Success
Untreated hearing loss leads to difficulty concentrating, especially when communicating with others. It can also lead to reduced job performance and less monetary compensation. New research suggests that untreated hearing loss leads to problems storing new information, which can make it more difficult to learn new things.
A study conducted by the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) provides even more data about how much of a difference hearing aids can make.
A total of 2,000 individuals with hearing loss were surveyed for this study. Of those, 82 percent indicated they would recommend hearing aids to their friends, and 70 percent reported an improved ability to communicate. In addition, more than four out of five people who use an aid to hear better are satisfied with their solution.
The study also concluded patients who used a hearing aid saw improvement 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
So, have these facts changed your mind yet? Turns out, treating your hearing loss can increase your quality of life. If only paying your taxes or returning your library books on time produced these kinds of results.
To learn more about the process of treating your hearing loss, contact your Thousand Oaks audiologist today.