Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of day-to-day events. You might even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline
A clear connection between cognitive decline and untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated 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 essential to never ignore any symptoms of hearing loss. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
You may find yourself constantly increasing the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can increase 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 closely linked. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, mental decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety brought on by social isolation.
Furthermore, prolonged untreated hearing loss prompts the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of normal hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, sustained neglected hearing loss can result in considerable rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In both the short and the long term, utilizing hearing aids can bring significant benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
While quick treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is essential, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and cognitive function going forward. Call today!
