Amidst hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too easy to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss affects more than just your ears and delaying treatment can have negative effects on your entire life.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a higher risk of mental decline
A clear connection between mental decline and untreated hearing loss has been established by scientists and researchers. This underscores the critical importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function also.
Hearing loss will worsen if it’s neglected
If you care about your hearing health, it’s important to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more damage to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself continually increasing the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and accelerating the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can boost specific frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the development of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Mental function can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, mental decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety brought on 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 recovery of healthy hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, sustained untreated hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t impossible to reverse these effects. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still provide substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
While timely treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as possible is essential, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function moving forward. Call today!