Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. But hearing loss affects more than just your ears and delaying treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
The link to mental decline
A clear connection between mental decline and neglected hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This underscores the crucial importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function as well.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about your hearing health, it’s important to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
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 specific frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The link between neglected hearing loss and mental function
There’s a direct connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have significant consequences on cognitive function. Over time, cognitive decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety brought on by social isolation.
Furthermore, prolonged untreated hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the recovery of healthy hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. The brain will have a difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still provide substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to get help. If you’re ready to enjoy improved hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!
