Could Hearing Loss Affect Your Lifespan?

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Everyone loves the concept of a miracle cure that helps increase your lifespan. That’s why you can find a great number of these miracle cures all over the internet promising longevity if you do this one trick. The vast majority of these so-called cures have no medical basis and are not endorsed by the healthcare community.

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 substantially impact your expected lifespan.

The same is true of managing hearing loss by wearing hearing aids. That’s according to a recent study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity, a multidisciplinary journal devoted to healthy aging. So, can hearing aids help you live longer? There’s a strong possibility that it will according to this research.

Is hearing loss a health threat?

Researchers have been aware of the relationship between general wellness and hearing health for quite a while. For instance, it has been well established that untreated hearing loss can substantially increase your risk of dementia later in life.

Many individuals, however, are not aware of these risks. They think about hearing loss as an isolated inconvenience, something that only affects one very specific facet of their life. But when neglected, hearing loss can pose greater health concerns than a simple inconvenience.

The connection between longevity and hearing loss

In the majority of cases, treatment for hearing loss means using hearing aids as often as possible. In this context, do hearing aids reduce the risk of early death? According to this newest study, quite possibly. The study found that regular hearing aid use was connected to a 24% reduction in mortality risk. The participants in this study, in other words, who used their hearing aids, tended to live longer.

Hearing aid advantages

The research published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity isn’t necessarily conclusive proof that hearing aids will help you have a longer life (though 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.

  • Social situations can become considerably easier. This can minimize the degree of social solitude you feel, improving your overall mental health.
  • You might also be more mindful of your surroundings. This can help prevent accidents, injuries, and mishaps.
  • From enjoying tender moments with your grandkids to participating in a business dinner, daily situations with friends, family, and colleagues will be simplified.
  • Using your hearing aids can help enhance cognition. Over time, your brain will be healthier and less fatigued from struggling to hear.

These are improvements to your quality of life that you’ll feel every time you wear your hearing aids. For these reasons alone, hearing aids are an essential part of managing your hearing loss.

Your total health and well-being depend heavily on healthy hearing

Scientists have recognized that the health of your hearing plays a major role in your total wellness. Your risk of early mortality can be reduced by treating any hearing loss you might have with hearing aids.

If you suspect that you might have some level of hearing loss, it’s time to contact us for a consultation.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.