What’s one thing Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Clinton, Pete Townshend, and Halle Berry all have in common? Each one of them suffers from some degree of hearing damage – and use hearing aids to overcome their hearing loss. That’s right, famous people ranging from world leaders to award-winning actors and musicians join a population of 28.8 million people who suffer from hearing loss, and the less than 30% of those people who actually use hearing aids.
So if the Queen of England wears hearing aids, then what’s stopping you?
The Benefits of Using Hearing Aids
One of the major benefits of using hearing aids is that you can help slow cognitive decline, including conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Studies have shown a clear link between hearing loss and cognitive problems, though there are several theories that seek to explain why this link exists. One of them is that the brain has to work overtime to process sounds, like conversations, which taxes it to the point that cognitive decline comes on more quickly. Hearing aids prevent this problem by allowing you to hear clearly, giving your brain a break from the extra work and allowing it to process important things like comprehension and memory.
Hearing aid users also generally experience a better quality of life. There are many reasons for that. For example, many people experience a reduction in tinnitus symptoms – the ringing or buzzing sound in your ear that may keep you up at night. Others enjoy higher earning power compared to those with untreated hearing loss. In fact, those people who go through life with untreated hearing loss can expect to reduce their annual income by up to $30,000. But perhaps the biggest boost in quality of life is that people who hear well engage more with others. They are far less likely to feel isolated.
While that’s all well and good, the fact is that some people still avoid hearing aids. They have outdated ideas on what hearing aids are capable of or even what they look like. The good news? Hearing aid technology has advanced leaps and bounds in just the last few years alone.
Hearing Aid Features You Will Love
Today’s hearing aids have a ton of new features to make your life easier – and you don’t have to be the Queen of England to afford them. For instance, one of the most common features in today’s hearing aids is Bluetooth technology. This wireless connection allows you to link to your phone, tablet, or TV so you don’t have to worry about finding the right balance of volume between your hearing aid and your device. The biggest benefit? You can watch your favorite TV show at a comfortable volume without deafening everyone else in the room.
Newer hearing aids also come with automatic wind and background noise suppression, which allows you to enjoy the great outdoors or an indoor party without constantly fiddling with your hearing aid volume. These automatic devices detect when sound is getting too loud and help you focus on conversations that are happening right in front of you, instead of all around the room.
Best of all, most of today’s hearing aids are much more discreet than they were even just a few short years ago. Manufacturers are able to condense hearing aid technology on a much smaller scale and achieve more with less when it comes to the size of your hearing aids.
Are you suffering from hearing loss and want to find out what your options are for hearing aids? Set up a consultation with a hearing specialist in your area to learn more about hearing aids and how they can help you start hearing better right away.