Between hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important 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 negative effects on your entire life.
The link to cognitive decline
Scientists have established a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have negative effects on your brain function as well.
The impact on hearing
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more damage to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
The progression of your hearing loss will be quickened if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can boost specific frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The link to mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate cognitive decline over time.
Also, the restoration of healthy hearing function can be complicated because untreated hearing loss will force the brain to adapt by reallocating mental resources from other functions, such as visual processes, over to auditory processes.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this scenario, 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 untreated hearing loss can lead to significant rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to revert to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t 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.
Give us a call 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. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!