Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off essential appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for fitting hearing aids. You may 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.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a greater risk of cognitive decline
A clear connection between cognitive decline and neglected hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This underscores the crucial importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function also.
The impact on hearing
If you care about the health of your hearing, it’s important to never ignore any symptoms of hearing loss. You unintentionally cause more damage to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing test or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself continually increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can increase specific frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and mental function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have significant consequences on mental function. Over time, cognitive decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety brought on by social separation.
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 recovery of healthy hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s remarkable ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, extended neglected hearing loss can lead to significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to return to previous functionality.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. If you’re ready to enjoy improved hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!