We all want to stay healthy and happy as we journey through life, and we all know many of the obvious ways to do it – exercising, eating right and getting enough sleep are all great starts. You may have made them your New Years’ resolutions already! Did you know that hearing has a role to play in keeping healthy too?
Hearing better helps us stay social and active
When we’re hearing clearly and with minimal effort, it’s much easier for us to be engaged, maintain connections and feel involved in conversations – it keeps us socially active! On the flip side, people who struggle hearing often choose to avoid social situations because it’s easier to avoid than struggle through them. They might turn down invitations, limit interactions, and become more withdrawn and isolated.
Hearing better helps keep us alert and independent
Our sense of hearing plays quite a significant role in how confident and independent we are, and how safe we feel when we are out and about.
When we hear clearly, our spatial awareness opens and we’re able to identify and react to audible cues that warns us of safety issues and help us to distinguish the environment we’re in. When we hear without effort, we can feel less reliant on those around us to warn us of potential hazards and danger – giving us a greater sense of freedom and independence than those who are hard of hearing.
People who can’t hear like they once could are more likely to miss warning cues, feel less confident in surroundings outside their home, and are more at risk of accidents, injuries or mishearing important information.
Did you know?
Individuals with good hearing are two times less likely to experience accidental injuries and three times less likely to have a history of falling than those with hearing loss.
Hearing better can help keep us mentally sharp
Various studies have linked hearing loss to dementia, a mental health challenge that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted will triple by 2050.
Experts attribute the connection to the fact that hearing loss leads to social isolation (a known risk factor for dementia patients), that it accelerates brain shrinkage, and that it forces the brain to “steal” energy needed for memory and thinking.
Did you know?
An international commission on dementia prevention has confirmed that treating hearing loss in midlife is the single biggest risk factor you can modify to help prevent dementia.
Hearing better brings us joy
Perhaps more than anything else, hearing our best helps to keep us positive and vibrant. Whether it’s listening to the laughter of friends, the sound of an orchestra or concert, a child’s first words, the rain your roof or bird singing outside the window, hearing keeps us engaged and active with the world around us.
If you’re ready to start hearing better so you can live your best life, the New Year is a great time to do it – and we can help you achieve that goal. You can visit our website for more information or give our wonderful reception team a call on 8331 8047 to book in a complimentary hearing test at one of our clinics.
