Trips to the ER cause you to miss work, and also personal pain. What if you could lessen your risk of falls, accidents, depression, anxiety, and even dementia while also preventing visits to the ER.
Surfacing studies make the case that, for individuals with serious hearing loss, wearing their hearing aid could be the difference between staying connected and healthy and winding up spending many nights in the emergency room.
The Research
This University of Michigan research gathered participants ranging from 65-85. Severe hearing loss was a common condition between them. But only 45% of the participants wore their hearing aids on a regular basis.
This is in agreement with similar studies which have found that only around 30% of people who have hearing aids actually wear them.
Of the 585 individuals in the hearing aid group, 12 fewer people ended up in the ER or non-elective hospital stay.
This may not seem like a very large number. But statistically, this is significant.
And that’s not all. They also determined that those who used their hearing aids spend, on average, one fewer day in the hospital. They were more likely to show up for regular appointments with their doctors, which likely decreased their time in ER.
How Can Hearing Aids Reduce The Need For Emergency Care Visits?
The first one is obvious. If an individual is keeping up with their health, they’re more likely to stay away from ER.
Other research has shown that when individuals with hearing loss wear their hearing aids, they stay more connected to family, friends, and the community. This can result in both a stronger drive to keep that doctor’s appointment and better access to services and help to get to appointments.
For those driving themselves, it means that they will be able to drive more safely with less anxiety about what they can’t hear.
In addition, a U.S. study found that those with hearing loss who don’t wear their hearing aid are two times as likely to be depressed. Depression can bring about a lack of self-care, which can lead to health problems.
Risks of falling and dementia are, as outlined by various studies, also reduced by using your hearing aids. The part of the brain that’s used for hearing will start to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. Over time, this can spread through the brain. The disorientation related to falls and symptoms of dementia are often the result.
Long hospital stays frequently accompany falls and falling is a major cause of senior death.
These are only a few of the reasons that hearing aids help reduce trips to the ER.
Why do so Many People Avoid Wearing Hearing Aids?
It’s hard to come up with a legitimate excuse.
Some don’t use them because they think that hearing aids make them seem older than they are. 25% of individuals over 65 and 50% of people over 75 have hearing loss and yet this perception of looking old with hearing aids persists. Hearing loss is not unusual. It happens to lots of people. Additionally, hearing loss is on the rise even with 20-year-olds because of earbuds and the increase in noise pollution.
It’s ironic that when someone is constantly asking people what they said it actually makes them appear older.
Price is often mentioned as a concern. However, financing is available for hearing aids and prices have come down in the past few years.
Lastly, some don’t enjoy the hearing experience with their hearing aid. This can typically be corrected by simply consulting your hearing specialist to learn how to more effectively use your hearing aid in various settings. Hearing aids can require numerous fittings before they are just right.
If something is preventing you from wearing your hearing aid, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your hearing specialist.