Amidst hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too simple 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 just your ears and delaying treatment can have negative effects on your entire life.
The link to cognitive decline
A clear connection between mental decline and untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This underscores the critical importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function also.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never neglect any symptoms of hearing loss. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
You might find yourself continually increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Hearing aids can amplify particular frequencies of sound thereby delaying the advancement of hearing loss.
The link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Mental function can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Social isolation, often a consequence of weakened hearing, can result in mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen mental decline over time.
Furthermore, prolonged neglected hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the recovery of normal 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 restoration, extended untreated hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to return to previous functionality.
However, it’s not impossible to reverse these effects. In spite of previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Set up an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. If you’re ready to enjoy improved hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!
