Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too easy to put off important appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can lead to a greater risk of cognitive decline
A clear link between mental decline and neglected hearing loss has been established 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 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. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or delaying the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
You might find yourself continually boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Hearing aids can amplify specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the advancement of hearing loss.
The link to cognitive function
There’s a close link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Cognitive function can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Social isolation, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues including depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate cognitive decline over time.
Furthermore, long-term 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 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. The brain will have a difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended neglected hearing loss.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. In both the short and the long term, using hearing aids can bring significant benefits even if you’ve put off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to tackle hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!