Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of daily events. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss affects more than just your ears and holding off on treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to a greater risk of mental decline
Scientists have established a clear link between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
Naturally, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to preserving your auditory health. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
The advancement 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 development of hearing loss.
The link to cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can have significant repercussions on cognitive function. Social solitude, frequently a consequence of weakened hearing, can result in mental health problems including depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen cognitive decline over time.
Also, the recovery of normal hearing function can be complicated because untreated 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 difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
However, it’s not impossible to undo these effects. 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 deal with hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is essential, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!