Amidst hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You might even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the critical importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your brain function also.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never ignore any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
The advancement of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately linked. Research shows that untreated hearing loss can have significant consequences on cognitive function. Over time, cognitive decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety brought on by social separation.
Furthermore, long-term untreated hearing loss prompts the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from processing sound to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the recovery of normal hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended neglected hearing loss.
However, it’s not impossible to reverse these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to get help. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is important, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!
