Hearing problems are more common than you might think in the United States. For example, did you know that there are more people with hearing loss than there are with vision problems, cancer, or diabetes? The good news is that in many of these instances, visiting a hearing care provider and investigating the possibility of using hearing aids can make a huge difference to the quality of life experienced by someone with hearing loss. Let’s take a look at three of the most significant ways that hearing aids could change your life.

Lifelong health

There is a strong correlation between hearing loss and mental health conditions like Alzheimer’s – you are four times more likely to experience dementia if you have hearing issues. The reality is that when you lose your hearing, you start to miss all the everyday sounds you are normally used to, from the birds that sing in the trees to the sound of a kettle boiling in the morning. And while researchers are still unsure as to why the loss of these common sounds is linked with brain health, the fact remains that ‘keeping your ear in’ will mean you are more likely to keep your cognitive functions for longer.

Work, family, and social benefits

Your relationships can suffer hugely when you are experiencing hearing loss. As speech becomes harder to understand – or even hear – it can cause irritation among friends, family and work colleagues who cannot really grasp the problem. Without the help of a hearing specialist and aids, people with hearing loss can often start avoiding visiting loud and noisy environments, such as churches, restaurants, and other busy public spaces. If you want to keep your independence, stay social, and live your life to its fullest, an appointment with a hearing health professional will be the first step to achieving your goals.

Wellbeing and comfort

There is a tremendous sense of unease that comes with experiencing gradual hearing loss. When you cannot hear what is going on around you, it can lead to feelings of insecurity and sheer dread. It’s hard to describe how troubling hearing loss can be, but ultimately it will raise your stress levels. And unfortunately, the stress of any kind can have an enormous impact on people’s lives, and even lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Getting a hearing aid can improve this anxiety by a significant amount, and give you a far better sense of wellbeing – you are doing something that works for you, and feel more able to cope with life’s struggles than you could before.

There are many more ways in which a hearing aid and hearing loss specialist can improve your life. It can help you do everything from playing sports and enjoying a trip to the theater through to listening to music and helping you perform better at work. But when you break everything down, it’s solving the three major problems of personal health, well-being, and social ease that are key to enjoying life to its fullest.