Between hectic schedules and the distractions of events, it’s all too simple to put off important appointments, such as those with a hearing specialist or for fitting hearing aids. You may even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
The link to cognitive decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have negative effects on your brain function too.
The impact on hearing
If you care about your hearing health, it’s important to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You inadvertently cause more harm to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing test or hearing aids if you need them.
The advancement of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can amplify specific frequencies of sound thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The link between neglected hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely linked. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated 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 worsen cognitive decline over time.
Also, the recovery of healthy hearing function can be complicated because untreated hearing loss will force the brain to adjust by reallocating mental resources from other functions, such as visual processes, over to auditory processes.
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 recovery, sustained untreated hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to return to previous functionality.
But it is possible to reverse 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.
Make an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve put off for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function going forward. Call today!