Amidst hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too easy to put off essential appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. 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 cognitive decline
A clear link between cognitive decline and neglected hearing loss has been established by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
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 test 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. Hearing aids can boost particular frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and mental function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, mental decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety caused by social separation.
Also, the restoration of normal hearing function can be complicated because neglected hearing loss will force the brain to adjust by reallocating mental resources from other functions, such as visual processes, over to auditory processes.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for sustained untreated hearing loss.
However, it isn’t impossible to reverse these effects. In both the short and the long term, making use of hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to deal with 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!