Between hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too easy to put off essential appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for fitting hearing aids. You might even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. But hearing loss impacts more than just your ears and holding off on treatment can have detrimental effects on your whole life.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your brain function as well.
Hearing loss will get worse if it goes untreated
If you care about the health of your hearing, it’s important to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
The progression of your hearing loss will be quickened if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The link to mental function
There’s a close connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social solitude, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate mental decline over time.
Moreover, long-term neglected hearing loss prompts the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of normal hearing function down the road.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, sustained untreated hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to revert to previous functionality.
However, it’s not impossible to undo these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
While timely treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is essential, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!