Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off essential appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
The connection to mental decline
Scientists have demonstrated 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 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. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing test 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 increase particular frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a close link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can have significant repercussions on cognitive function. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can lead to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen mental decline over time.
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 recovery of normal hearing function down the road.
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 prolonged neglected hearing loss.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. In both the short and the long term, using 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
You should obviously find treatment as soon as you can, 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 mental function, call us today for an assessment!