The answer to your question is yes; and, furthermore, I personally always follow the mantra: “Happy, wife; happy life.”

Unfortunately, hearing loss is very frequent: 3 in 10 over age 60; 1 in 6 aged 41-69 (Baby Boomers), and 1 in 14 aged 29-40 (Generation X).

However, untreated hearing loss leads to loss of gray matter (the thinking part of our brains). Also, the extra effort used by people straining to hear interferes with normal cognition. Finally, the social isolation that can occur from hearing loss leads to mental stagnation.

Neuroscientists have actually found that correcting hearing loss in individuals already diagnosed with dementia slows the progression of the disease.

Two other reasons to listen to your wife have to do with heart disease and the risk of falling. The Framingham Heart Study found a correlation between low-frequency hearing loss and heart disease. As it turns out, having uncorrected hearing loss leads to higher levels of adrenal gland output which can elevate heart rate and blood pressure.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that a 25-decibel hearing loss increased the risk of falling three fold. Hearing loss makes an individual less aware of their overall environment, thus increasing fall risk. Straining to hear and process auditory input distracts the brain from other activities such as maintaining balance.

Finally, cochlear (the hearing part of your ear) disorders can impact vestibular (the balance part of the ear) function.

Bottom line – listen (pun intended) to your wife.