Putting off on essential 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 delaying treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
The link to cognitive decline
Scientists have proven a clear link between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your brain function too.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
Naturally, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for 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 continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a close connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can have substantial repercussions on mental 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.
Moreover, prolonged untreated hearing loss prompts the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from processing sound to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of normal hearing function down the road.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, extended untreated 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. 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.
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously find treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to get help. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as you can is important, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!