Putting off on essential appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amidst the hustle and bustle of daily events. You might even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. But hearing loss affects more than just your ears and delaying treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
Untreated hearing loss can result in a higher risk of cognitive 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.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
Obviously, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to preserving your auditory health. You unintentionally cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
The progression of your hearing loss will be quickened 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 untreated hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a close connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have considerable consequences on mental function. Over time, cognitive decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety caused by social separation.
Also, the restoration 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 hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for sustained neglected hearing loss.
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 deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Set up an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously seek 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 cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!