Putting off on essential appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of daily events. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. But hearing loss impacts more than only your ears and holding off on treatment can have negative effects on your entire life.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a greater risk of cognitive decline
A clear link between cognitive decline and neglected hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
Obviously, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to 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.
The advancement of your hearing loss will be quickened if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Mental function can be seriously impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social solitude, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate mental decline over time.
Also, the recovery of healthy hearing function can be complicated because neglected 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. The brain will have a difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. In spite of previous delays in getting treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
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!