Did hearing aids make my wife . . . smarter?
Hearing is a resource that allows us to engage in a real-time fusion of thoughts and feelings. When you have normal hearing, you communicate with little comparative effort. When you have hearing loss, it is much harder to communicate.
What surprises those with normal hearing is that hearing loss imposes a burden on communication. We humans so love company. Our need to engage in relationship is hard-wired in our makeup. Many hearing loss sufferers are willing to work harder to communicate, but the effort takes its toll.
As an example, imagine you have an armful of groceries to carry into the house. You also have a small child to carry in the same trip. How much less energy will you have to play with the child once you’ve put the groceries down? Now imagine that you always live with this burden. You carry it wherever you go. You never get to put down the groceries. This is the burden that hearing loss imposes on communication.
The effort to communicate draws from mental and physical resources. My patients often report renewed energy and mental clarity once they’ve treated their hearing loss. Can treating hearing loss make you smarter? It’s fairer to say hearing loss treatment can help you be more resourceful in a variety of other areas.
If you or a loved one find conversation difficult, an audiologic evaluation is the best, next step. You have five senses that you experience life through. Why not experience life to the fullest? Call my office today to schedule your consultation! 208-792-6034.