Having to go to the ER can be personally and financially costly. What if you could minimize your chances of falls, accidents, depression, anxiety, and even dementia while also preventing visits to the ER.
Using your hearing aid can be the difference between having an engaged healthy life and taking lots of trips to the ER, according to some new research.
The Research
This University of Michigan research assembled participants ranging from 65-85. Each had severe loss of hearing. But only 45% of the participants wore their hearing aids on a regular basis.
This is in agreement with comparable studies which have shown that only about 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 ended up in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This may not seem like a very large number. But it’s statistically significant.
And that’s not all. They also discovered that those who wore their hearing aids spend, on average, one fewer day in the hospital. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which most likely decreased their time in ER.
How Can Hearing Aids Decrease The Need For ER Visits?
First for the obvious one. You wouldn’t be as likely to require emergency care if you were paying attention to your health.
Other studies have revealed that when people with hearing loss wear their hearing aids, they stay more connected to friends, family, and the community. This can lead to both a greater drive to keep that doctor’s appointment and better access to services and assistance to get to appointments.
And driving is safer when you can hear, so you will have more confidence if you are bringing yourself to your appointment.
One study carried out in the U.S. revealed that depression is twice as likely in people who don’t wear their hearing aid. Depression can result in a lack of self-care, which can lead to health issues.
Thirdly, various studies have revealed that using your hearing aid can lessen the risk of falling and cognitive decline. The region of the brain that’s responsible for hearing will start to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. With time, this can spread through the brain. As this occurs, people frequently experience dementia symptoms and the disorientation and lack of balance associated with falls.
Long hospital stays often accompany falls and falling is a major cause of senior death.
These are only a few of the reasons that hearing aids help minimize trips to the ER.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many Individuals Neglect?
There’s truly no good reason.
Some don’t use them because they think that hearing aids make them seem older than they are. This notion persists despite the fact that around 25% of people over 65 have significant hearing loss, and 50% of those 75 and older have it. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It’s common. And thanks to the rise in noise pollution and earbud usage, hearing loss is increasing with people in their twenties.
Ironically, frequently asking people to repeat what they said often makes a person appear much older than they are.
Price is often noted as a concern. However, financing is available for hearing aids and prices have come down in the last few years.
Some people don’t like how hearing aids sound. This can typically be corrected by simply consulting your hearing specialist to find out how to more effectively use your hearing aid in different settings. Hearing aids don’t always fit and sound perfect on the first fitting and sometimes require a few tries.
Make an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.
