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 might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss impacts more than only your ears and delaying treatment can have detrimental effects on your entire life.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have established a clear connection 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
Obviously, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for preserving your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or delaying the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
You may find yourself constantly boosting the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can boost particular frequencies of sound thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The connection to mental function
There’s a direct connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have significant repercussions on cognitive function. Social isolation, often a consequence of weakened hearing, can lead to mental health problems including depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen mental decline over time.
Also, the recovery of healthy hearing function can be complicated because neglected hearing loss will force the brain to adjust by reallocating mental resources from other functions, such as visual processes, over to auditory processes.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, prolonged untreated hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to revert to previous functionality.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In spite of previous delays in getting treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still provide substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to deal with hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is important, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!
