It is common for people to avoid treating their hearing loss, and to even cringe at the thought of wearing a hearing aid. This is due to the false notion that hearing aids somehow symbolize being “old” or will slow you down. Many of us remember the oversized, bulky hearing aids our fathers used to wear. The ones that constantly fed annoying feedback sounds and were a total eyesore. Luckily, the hearing aid industry has made leaps and bounds in both style and efficacy of hearing devices.
In fact, treating hearing loss with today’s modern hearing aids has been found to have profoundly positive effects on many areas of life. Hearing aids can improve relationships, increase earning potential, decrease risk of cognitive decline and can even help to keep you more active for longer. If you have been putting off getting hearing aids for fear that they will slow you down or keep you from the active lifestyle you love, it’s time to call your nearest audiologist - because hearing aids can actually improve the experience of exercise and activity!
The Importance of Exercise
We all know it. Exercise is extremely important for overall health and wellbeing. It is recommended by the Department of Health and Human Services that healthy adults get at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate intensity or 75 minutes (1.25 hours) of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise each week. The department recommends spreading this out over the course of the week. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise includes: brisk walking, swimming, mowing the lawn, or yoga. Examples of vigorous intensity aerobic exercise are: dancing, running, or indoor cycling. It is important to remember that these numbers reflect only the minimum recommendation and the more aerobic activity you engage in the greater your overall health benefit (https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20057916).
It is also important to include strength training exercises into your weekly routine as well. Strength training includes weight lifting, resistance training or the use of weight machines.
Regular exercise can improve your mood, control your weight, decrease anxiety, improve your sex life, improve sleep, increase energy, and can decrease the risk of diseases and health disorders such as: stroke, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, depression, many types of cancer, arthritis, and falls.
How Hearing Aids Help
Hearing aids can help improve the experience of exercise in many ways.
Enjoy the social aspect of exercise.
For those of us who love exercising with others, hearing aids can make this experience much more enjoyable. Whether it is a Saturday morning hike with your daughter or participating in a yoga class, part of the fun is being able to hear and interact with those around you. Hearing aids are specifically designed to help you enjoy conversations and understand speech, in many different listening conditions!
Hear your music clearer.
Some of us prefer to workout solo, and many enjoy the boost of their favorite jams to keep them motivated. Some hearing aids of today are specifically designed with music lovers in mind. Many hearing aids can actually stream your music directly to your ears, and the technology within the aid will help you hear the sounds and the notes like they were intended to be heard.
Don’t worry about moisture or sweat.
Hopefully, the exercise you do will have you work up a sweat. This can be scary for many hearing aid wearers. Luckily, there are numerous hearing aids on the market with very high IP ratings, meaning they are quite resistant to damage from moisture or debris. Feel liberated to work up that sweat worry free!
Say goodbye to feedback from wind noise.
Some enjoy outdoor exercise such as cycling, running, or kayaking. Oftentimes noise from wind during these activities can cause feedback and annoyance with hearing aids. Luckily, there are now hearing aids that are specifically targeted for those who live an active lifestyle. Many of these aids now employ wind resistance technology, that helps to block wind noise and greatly reduces feedback.
If you think you may be experiencing some of the early signs of hearing loss, reach out to our friendly team at Hart Hearing & Balance today. We look forward to working with you.