Amidst hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too easy 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 whatsoever. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to a greater risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have proven a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will worsen if it’s neglected
Naturally, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to maintaining your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
The advancement of your hearing loss will be quickened if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can amplify specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can have considerable consequences on mental function. Social solitude, often a consequence of weakened hearing, can lead to mental health problems including depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate mental decline over time.
Furthermore, prolonged untreated hearing loss prompts 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
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In both the short and the long term, utilizing hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Give us a call for an appointment
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy improved hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!