Between 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 not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can result in a greater risk of cognitive decline
Scientists have proven a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the critical importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have negative effects on your brain function as well.
The impact on hearing
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never neglect any symptoms of hearing loss. You unintentionally cause more damage to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing test or hearing aids if you need them.
You might find yourself constantly boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the progression 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 cognitive function. Social solitude, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, which in turn can exacerbate 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
In this situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. The brain will have a hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for sustained neglected hearing loss.
However, it isn’t 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.
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to get help. If you’re ready to enjoy improved hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!