Between 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 may even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
The link to cognitive decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and mental decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
If you care about the health of your hearing, it’s important to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You unintentionally cause more harm to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
The development of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can boost specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and mental function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have significant consequences on cognitive function. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of weakened hearing, can lead to mental health problems including depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen cognitive decline over time.
Also, the restoration of normal 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 situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for prolonged untreated hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In both the short and the long term, making use of hearing aids can bring significant benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist
While timely treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!
