It’s hard to believe the holidays are right around the corner. Many people are filled with excitement as they plan trips and gatherings to see their loved ones. However, if you have hearing loss, you may be feeling apprehension and even loneliness this season.
Hearing Loss and Isolation
One of the first signs of hearing loss is that it makes speech more difficult to understand. If left untreated, hearing can gradually get worse. Because of this, people with hearing loss may find holiday gatherings frustrating and difficult due to their struggles to communicate with family and friends.
For some, the stress of not being able to communicate leads to avoiding social gatherings altogether and isolating themselves away from others. This isolation can harm existing relationships, cause hearing loss to worsen, and even pose a risk to your mental and cognitive health.
Hearing Aids Let You Enjoy the Holidays With Loved Ones
If you have signs of hearing loss, you should schedule an appointment for a hearing test as soon as possible. Hearing aids are the most common form of treatment, and research has shown that they can make socializing with others easier.
A 2021 study compared two groups of people with hearing loss. One group was just beginning treatment with hearing aids, while the other left their condition untreated. The results showed that after six months, “social activity level increased and social participation restriction decreased significantly after hearing aid fitting” for those who were treated with hearing aids.
Hearing aids can help you this holiday season in several ways. They can:
- Reduce miscommunication. Mistakes that come from not hearing or mishearing can cause a lot of frustration and annoyance for both people with hearing loss as well as their family members. Hearing aids enhance your ability to understand speech, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen relationships.
- Suppress background noise. Many newer hearing aids have settings that can reduce background noise while enhancing the speech of the person sitting in front of you, making it easier to follow conversations in louder environments such as a dinner party or a festive night out at Watershed Kitchen + Bar.
- Ease tension. Hearing loss can increase feelings of anxiety, depression and general stress. When you feel more confident about your ability to hear and converse with others, you are naturally going to be more relaxed and able to tune in while having a conversation with your spouse or playing games with your grandchildren.
So, what are you waiting for? Give yourself the gift of better hearing this holiday season and call the experts at Columbus Speech and Hearing today to schedule an appointment!