Amidst hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too easy 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 at all. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a higher risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about the health of your hearing, 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 additional damage.
You might find yourself constantly boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can have substantial consequences on mental function. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate cognitive decline over time.
Furthermore, prolonged untreated hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from processing sound to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the recovery of healthy hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, sustained neglected hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to revert to previous functionality.
However, it’s not impossible to undo these effects. In both the short and the long term, utilizing hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve put off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously find treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to get help. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function moving forward. Call today!