Putting off on essential appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amidst the hustle and bustle of daily events. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss impacts more than only your ears and holding off on treatment can have detrimental effects on your whole life.
Neglected hearing loss can lead to a greater risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
Obviously, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for maintaining 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.
You might find yourself constantly boosting the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and accelerating the progression of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The connection to cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are closely linked. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can have considerable repercussions on mental function. Social solitude, frequently a consequence of weakened hearing, can result in mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen cognitive decline over time.
Furthermore, long-term neglected hearing loss prompts 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 down the road.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this situation, 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 prolonged neglected hearing loss.
However, it’s not impossible to undo these effects. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
While prompt 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 cognitive function moving forward. Call today!