Trips to the ER can cost you time off work, and also personal pain. What if you could minimize ER trips and significantly decrease your risk of depression, anxiety, and even dementia.
Wearing your hearing aid can be the difference between living an active healthy life and taking lots of trips to the ER, according to some new studies.
The Research
Participants between the ages of 65 and 85 participated in a University of Michigan study. Extreme hearing loss was a common condition between them. But only 45% of the participants wore their hearing aids regularly.
Other researchers have also demonstrated that hearing aids were used regularly by only 30% of individuals who had them.
Of the 585 individuals in the group who did use their hearing aids, 12 fewer people found themselves in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This might not seem like a very big number. But statistically, this is significant.
And there’s more. They also discovered that one day fewer, on average, was spent in the hospital for individuals who used their hearing aids. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which most likely reduced their time in ER.
How Can ER Visits be Reduced by Using Hearing Aids?
The first one is obvious. If a person is staying on top of their health, they’re more likely to stay out of ER.
Also, people who use their hearing aids stay more socially involved. When a person is socially involved they are usually more motivated to keep their appointments and also have more help from family and friends getting to the doctor.
And driving is safer when you can hear, so you will be more confident if you are bringing yourself to your appointment.
One study conducted in the U.S. discovered that depression is two times as likely in individuals who don’t use their hearing aid. Health issues linked to lack of self care is commonly an outcome of depression.
Thirdly, numerous studies have found that wearing your hearing aid can decrease the risk of falling and dementia. The part of the brain that’s used for hearing will start to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. With time, this can spread through the brain. The disorientation related to falls and symptoms of dementia are frequently the outcome.
Falls are one of the leading causes of death among those over 65, and the resulting hospital stays last twice as long.
These are just a few of the reasons that hearing aids help decrease ER visits.
So Why is Wearing Hearing Aids Something That so Many Individuals Avoid?
It’s difficult to come up with a valid excuse.
Fear of appearing old is one leading reason why some individuals don’t wear their hearing aids. 25% of individuals over 65 and 50% of people above the age of 75 have hearing loss and yet this notion of looking old with hearing aids remains. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It’s common. And due to the rise in noise pollution and earbud usage, hearing loss is on the rise with people in their twenties.
It’s ironic that when someone is always asking people what they said it actually makes them look older.
Price is often noted as a worry. However, financing is available for hearing aids and prices have come down in the past few years.
Finally, some don’t enjoy the hearing experience with their hearing aid. In this case, your hearing specialist can help you understand what settings work best in different situations. Hearing aids can require numerous fittings before they are just right.
Schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist so we can help you feel more comfortable wearing your hearing aids.