Between hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too easy to put off essential appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You might even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot 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 mental decline and neglected hearing loss has been demonstrated 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 delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for maintaining your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
The advancement 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 link between neglected hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a direct connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social isolation, frequently a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate mental decline over time.
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 situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, sustained untreated hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
However, it’s not impossible to reverse these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
You should obviously find treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as you can is important, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!