Having to go to the ER can cost you time off work, not to mention personal pain. What if you could minimize your chances of accidents, falls, anxiety, depression, and even dementia while also eliminating visits to the ER.
Surfacing research makes the case that, for those with serious hearing loss, wearing their hearing aid could be the difference between staying connected and healthy and ending up spending many evenings in the emergency room.
The Study
Participants from 65 to 85 participated in a University of Michigan study. Each had significant loss of hearing. But only 45% of the participants used their hearing aids regularly.
This is in agreement with comparable studies which have found that only about 30% of individuals 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 might not seem like a very large number. But statistically, this is significant.
And that’s not all. They also discovered that one day fewer, on average, was spent in the hospital for those who wore their hearing aids. They were more likely to keep regular appointments with their doctors, which likely decreased their time in ER.
How Might Hearing Aids Decrease The Need For ER Visits?
The first one is obvious. If a person is keeping up with their health, they’re more likely to stay away from ER.
Also, people who use their hearing aids remain more socially active. When a person is socially connected they are usually more motivated to keep their appointments and also have more support from friends and family getting to the doctor.
For those driving themselves, it means that they can drive more safely with less stress about what they can’t hear.
One study conducted in the U.S. found that depression is two times as likely in individuals who don’t wear their hearing aid. Health concerns related to lack of self care is frequently an outcome of depression.
The danger of falling and dementia are, as outlined by various studies, also decreased by wearing your hearing aids. The region of the brain that’s used for hearing will begin to decline from lack of use as hearing declines. With time, this can extend 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 leading cause of senior death.
These are just a few of the reasons that hearing aids help minimize trips to the ER.
Why do so Many People Neglect Wearing Hearing Aids?
It’s difficult to come up with a legitimate excuse.
Fear of appearing old is one leading reason why some people don’t use their hearing aids. 25% of individuals over 65 and 50% of people over 75 have hearing loss and yet this perception of looking old with hearing aids remains. Hearing impairment isn’t rare. It happens to many people. 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 appear older.
Some individuals cite the price of hearing aids. However, hearing aids have become more affordable in just the past few years, and there are ways to finance them.
Finally, some don’t like the hearing experience with their hearing aid. If this is a problem for you, we can help you understand what settings work best in different situations. Hearing aids can require numerous fittings before they are just right.
If something is preventing you from using your hearing aid, it’s time to schedule an appointment.