Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off essential appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. But hearing loss affects more than just your ears and holding off on treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a higher risk of mental decline
Scientists have proven a clear link between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have negative effects on your brain function also.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential 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 may find yourself constantly increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Hearing aids can amplify specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the development of hearing loss.
The link to mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant 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.
Moreover, long-term untreated hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from processing sound to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of healthy hearing function down the road.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, extended untreated hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to revert to previous functionality.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still provide substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Set up an appointment with a hearing specialist
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to tackle hearing loss. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as possible is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function moving forward. Call today!