Hearing loss can make us socially withdraw

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A woman with brown hair and a backpack, back to the viewer, sits on the rocks and looks out at a lake.

This post originally appeared on Starkey.com

Today’s fact raises awareness of two of the biggest detriments of hearing loss—loneliness and social isolation. And they are not a huge surprise, when you think about it: Humans are social creatures, and when hearing, communicating, and interacting become more challenging due to hearing loss, it’s naturally easier to decline invitations, ship and transact online, and just stay home.

The unfortunate reality of living a socially withdrawn life, however, is that it not only can impact your overall life happiness, but also increase your risk for dementia, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins.

The good news: Treating your hearing loss with hearing aids can help you stay connected and involved with the world around you. More specifically, better hearing can help you maintain a strong support network, life engagement, and an active social life—and the rewards that come with them.

Let’s take a closer look at the ripple effect that staying connected through better hearing can have on your well-being:

Strong support network

Hearing better makes it easier to maintain your relationships with friends, family, caregivers, and other important people in your life and in turn, communicate your needs with them (and vice versa). As a result, you’ll have your “village”—the people who are there for you when you need them. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, such a support system can help reduce your stress and physical health problems, plus improve your emotional well-being.

Engaged in life

Whether you take an art class, volunteer in your community, or simply spend more time with family and friends, better hearing helps make it easier to live an active lifestyle. Have conversations. Hear instructions. Enjoy the sounds of birds, laughs, and other joys of life around you. Studies show that participating in life can help you feel happier and healthier. And by “healthier,” they also mean you may lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer.

Socializing

When you can hear better, you are more likely to take part in conversations, make plans with others, go to restaurants or family events, and so on. And this is a good thing: Social isolation is linked to a 50 percent increased risk of dementia, cites the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But on the brighter side, numerous studies have shown that an active social life may help you live longer. (And have fun doing it, right?)

So, if you’ve been thinking about getting your hearing tested or treating the hearing loss you know you have, why wait?

Visit your closest Chicagoland Hearing location to check up on your hearing health.