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 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 whole life.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have established a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function as well.
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 delay getting a hearing test or hearing aids if you need them.
You might find yourself continually boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The connection to cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Cognitive function can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate cognitive decline over time.
Also, the restoration 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. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, extended untreated hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver 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 mental function, call us today for an assessment!