Amidst 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.
The connection to mental decline
Scientists have established a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your mental function as well.
The impact on hearing
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 additional damage.
You might find yourself continually increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and accelerating the development of hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Social solitude, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen cognitive decline over time.
Also, the restoration of healthy hearing function can be complicated because neglected 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
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this situation. The brain will have a difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for sustained neglected hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to deal with hearing loss. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!