Amidst hectic schedules and the distractions 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. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a greater risk of mental decline
A clear link between cognitive decline and untreated 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
Obviously, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to preserving your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or delaying the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to further damage.
The development of your hearing loss will be quickened if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Wearing a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The link between untreated hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Cognitive function can be seriously impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some significant research. Social solitude, frequently a consequence of weakened hearing, can result in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate cognitive decline over time.
Furthermore, prolonged neglected hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of healthy 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 extended untreated hearing loss.
However, it’s not impossible to reverse these effects. In both the short and the long term, utilizing hearing aids can bring significant benefits even if you’ve put off on getting treatment for some time.
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!
