Trips to the ER can cost you time off work, and also personal pain. What if you could reduce your risk of falls, accidents, depression, anxiety, and even dementia while also eliminating trips to the ER.
Wearing your hearing aid can be the difference between having an active healthy life and taking many trips to the ER, according to some new studies.
The Study
This University of Michigan study gathered participants ranging from 65-85. Each had significant hearing loss. But out of all of those people who participated, only 45% of them wore their hearing aids regularly.
Other researchers have also demonstrated that hearing aids were worn regularly by only 30% of individuals who had them.
Of the 585 people in the hearing aid group, 12 fewer people ended up in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This might not seem like a very large number. But it’s statistically substantial.
And there’s more. They also discovered that those who wore their hearing aids spend, on average, one day fewer in the hospital. Their time at the ER was probably reduced because they were more likely to keep their regular doctor’s appointments.
How Can Emergency Care Visits be Decreased by Using Hearing Aids?
The first one is obvious. You wouldn’t be as likely to need emergency care if you were paying attention to your health.
Other studies have shown that when individuals with hearing loss wear their hearing aids, they stay more connected to friends, family, and the community. This can bring about both a stronger motivation to show up for that doctor’s appointment and better access to services and assistance to get to appointments.
And driving is less dangerous when you can hear, so you will be more confident if you are getting yourself to your appointment.
One study carried out in the U.S. discovered that depression is two times as likely in individuals who don’t use their hearing aid. Health issues related to lack of self care is frequently an outcome of depression.
The danger of falling and dementia are, as outlined by various studies, also reduced by using your hearing aids. As a person starts to suffer from hearing impairment, the corresponding part of the brain begins to decline from disuse. The rest of the brain is ultimately impacted. The disorientation related to falls and symptoms of dementia are commonly the result.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death among those over 65, and the consequent hospital stays last twice as long.
Hearing aids minimize visits to the ER for these reasons amongst others.
Why do so Many People Neglect Wearing Hearing Aids?
There’s truly no good reason.
Some people don’t use them because they think that hearing aids make them seem older than they actually are. This perception persists despite the fact that about 25% of people over 65 have significant hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and above have it. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It’s common. And due to the increase in noise pollution and earbud usage, hearing loss is on the rise among people in their twenties.
It’s ironic that when someone is constantly asking people what they said it actually makes them look older.
Price is often cited as a worry. However, hearing aids have become more affordable in just the past few years, and there are financing options available.
Some people don’t like how hearing aids sound. In this case, your hearing specialist can help you understand what settings work best in different circumstances. Hearing aids sometimes need numerous fittings before they are just right.
Make an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more secure wearing your hearing aids.