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, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can lead to a higher risk of mental decline
A clear link between mental decline and untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will get worse if it’s neglected
Naturally, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to maintaining your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
You might find yourself continually boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Hearing aids can increase specific frequencies of sound thereby delaying the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and cognitive function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research shows that neglected hearing loss can have considerable consequences on mental function. Over time, mental decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety caused by social isolation.
Furthermore, prolonged untreated hearing loss prompts 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 down the road.
Navigating neuroplasticity
The brain’s amazing ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, sustained neglected hearing loss can lead to considerable rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to revert to previous functionality.
But it is possible to undo this effect. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously find treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to get help. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger mental function, call us today for an assessment!