Amidst hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too easy to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
Untreated hearing loss can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have established a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your brain function also.
The impact on hearing
Naturally, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to preserving your auditory health. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing test or hearing aids if you need them.
The development of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can amplify particular frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Mental function can be seriously impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, mental decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety caused by social isolation.
Furthermore, prolonged neglected hearing loss causes the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the restoration of healthy hearing function later on.
Navigating neuroplasticity
In this scenario, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, extended neglected hearing loss can result in significant 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, making use of hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and cognitive function going forward. Call today!