An estimated 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids. For all they offer, it’s no wonder that those helpful devices are high on the list of things we’re giving thanks for this year. With turkey time right around the corner, let’s look at a list of reasons why we’re thankful for hearing aids.
1. They Help You Retain Energy
Listening fatigue is a common symptom of hearing loss. When you have to work to understand every word, a conversation can feel more like a mentally taxing puzzle than a fun time with another person. Hearing aids take some of that work off your hands by delivering amplified, easier-to-understand speech directly to your ears, helping you conserve energy.
2. They Create Greater Ease in Busy Environments
A study on the cocktail party effect, a skill that allows you to isolate and understand one voice among a stream of noise, found that people with hearing loss struggle to employ the skill effectively. Instead, their ears are more likely to fuse similar-sounding words and sentences, making understanding speech in busy environments nearly impossible.
Hearing aids work to amplify speech while ignoring unnecessary background noise. While they may not be able to block out all the competing noises, they can make a significant difference in your ability to process the speech you want to hear.
3. They Reconnect You With Your Loved Ones
When you struggle to hear what your loved ones are saying, it can feel like those connections are out of reach. Combining the amplified speech of hearing aids with a few communication strategies will help you and your loved ones understand and connect with each other this holiday season and beyond.
Say Thanks for Hearing Aids
Higher energy levels, greater ease in busy environments and reconnection are just a few of the many benefits hearing aids have to offer. For more information about what these devices can do for you or to schedule a hearing aid consultation, contact Arizona Hearing Specialists today. If you already have hearing aids, call us to schedule a professional service appointment to ensure your devices are working their best for the holiday season.
Sources
Hornsby B. W. (2013). The effects of hearing aid use on listening effort and mental fatigue associated with sustained speech processing demands. Ear and hearing, 34(5), 523–534. https://doi.org/10.1097/AUD.0b013e31828003d8
Reiss, L. A. J., & Molis, M. R. (2021). An alternative explanation for difficulties with speech in background talkers: Abnormal fusion of vowels across fundamental frequency and ears. Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 22(4), 443–461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10162-021-00790-7