Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for fitting hearing aids. You may even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. But hearing loss impacts more than just your ears and delaying treatment can have detrimental effects on your entire life.
The connection to cognitive decline
A clear link between cognitive decline and neglected hearing loss has been demonstrated 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 ignore any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more damage to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself continually boosting the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and speeding up the progression of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby delaying the progression 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. Mental function can be severely impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, cognitive decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety caused by social isolation.
Furthermore, long-term neglected 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 normal hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this scenario, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for sustained untreated hearing loss.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!