Between hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for fitting hearing aids. You might even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can result in a higher risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have established a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function too.
Hearing loss will get worse if it’s neglected
If you care about the health of your hearing, it’s essential to never ignore any symptoms of hearing loss. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or delaying the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
The development of your hearing loss will be quickened if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can increase specific frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the development of hearing loss.
The link between untreated hearing loss and mental function
There’s a direct connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, mental decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety caused by social separation.
Moreover, long-term neglected hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of normal 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 scenario. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, sustained neglected hearing loss can result in considerable rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to revert to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously find treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!