Amidst hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
The connection to mental decline
A clear link between cognitive decline and neglected hearing loss has been established by scientists and researchers. 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. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
The advancement of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can increase particular frequencies of sound thereby delaying the advancement of hearing loss.
The link between untreated hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have considerable consequences on cognitive function. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can lead to mental health issues including depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate mental 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. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. In both the short and the long term, using hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve put off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to tackle hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!