Everybody loves the concept of a miracle cure that helps you live longer. As a matter of fact, a brief internet search will probably return thousands of such miracle remedies (if not more), each promising to help you have a longer life thanks to one simple trick. The healthcare community doesn’t back the vast majority of these supposed cures as they have no real medical basis.
But there are some legitimate things you can do to help you achieve a longer lifespan. For example, eating a healthy diet (specifically one low in sodium and saturated fats) or quitting smoking can significantly affect your expected lifespan.
The same is true of managing hearing loss by wearing hearing aids. That’s according to recent research published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, a multidisciplinary publication dedicated to healthy aging. So, will using hearing aids to treat hearing loss help improve longevity? There’s a strong likelihood that it will according to this research.
Does hearing loss pose a risk to your health?
The relationship between your hearing health and your general wellness is not particularly new to researchers. For example, it has been well demonstrated that untreated hearing loss can considerably increase your risk of cognitive decline later in life.
These risks, however, are largely unknown by most individuals. They think that hearing loss will only influence one facet of their lives and is a mere nuisance. But when left untreated, hearing loss can pose bigger health concerns than a simple inconvenience.
Is there a link between hearing aids and lifespan?
In most cases, treatment for hearing loss means wearing hearing aids as much as possible. In this context, do hearing aids decrease the risk of early death? There is a definite possibility, according to this recent research, that hearing aids can reduce your risk of early death. There is a 24% reduction in mortality risk for individuals with hearing loss who regularly use hearing aids, as revealed by this study. The participants in this study, in other words, who wore their hearing aids, tended to live longer.
The advantages of hearing aids
The research published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity is not necessarily definitive proof that hearing aids will help you have a longer life (although the study does strongly suggest a connection). But we already have a large body of evidence about the many advantages of using hearing aids and this just adds to that body.
- You can prevent accidents and injuries by being more mindful of your surroundings.
- It will be easier to function in social situations. This can minimize the amount of social solitude you feel, improving your overall mental health.
- Using your hearing aids can help increase cognition. This means that you (and your brain) will likely be less fatigued and healthier over time.
- From enjoying tender moments with your grandkids to participating in a business dinner, everyday situations with friends, family, and colleagues will be simplified.
These are improvements to your quality of life that you’ll experience each time you wear your hearing aids. These are all great reasons to use hearing aids to manage your hearing loss.
Your overall health and well-being rely heavily on healthy hearing
Scientists have recognized that the health of your hearing plays a significant role in your overall wellness. Your risk of early mortality can be diminished by treating any hearing loss you may have with hearing aids.
Seeing a hearing specialist can help you determine whether you have hearing loss and the best way to manage it.
