If you’re not managing your symptoms correctly, hearing loss can put you in the hospital. You might think that this is somewhat of an exaggeration. We usually consider hearing loss as little more than a hassle – something that makes the news a little tougher to hear or, at worst, makes you unwittingly agree to something you didn’t mean.
But current research is causing alarm about the long-term health effects of untreated hearing loss.
What Does Hearing Loss Have to do With Your Health?
Hearing loss doesn’t, at first glance, seem like it has much of a link to other health concerns. But research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that over time, visits to the hospital can increase by up to 50% for someone with neglected hearing loss. The possibility of severe health issues goes up the longer hearing loss remains untreated.
That’s a curious finding: how is your general state of health linked to your ability to hear? That question can have a complicated answer.
Hearing Health And Mental Health
Here are a few of the health problems connected to hearing loss:
- Loss of balance. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to keep your balance and keep your situational focus.
- You begin to lose your memory. As a matter of fact, your odds of developing dementia is twice as high with neglected hearing loss.
- Higher instance of depression and anxiety. Basically, the likelihood of anxiety and depression increases with hearing loss and that will lead to health issues both physical and mental.
Hearing Aids: A Real Solution
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research reveals that up to 75% of hearing loss related mental decline can be halted by one basic solution: using a hearing aid.
Wearing a hearing aid has a powerful impact on mitigating the risks connected to untreated hearing loss. The following improvements were revealed in individuals who used hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Reductions in severe brain injuries.
- Brain function improvements.
- Balance and awareness improvements.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins looked at data from 77,000 patients collected over about twenty years. And the conclusion is surprisingly simple: protecting your hearing is crucial to preserving your health. Being sick can be costly, so taking care of your hearing also protects your financial well being.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is not exclusive to the aging process but it is a part of it. Hearing loss can develop at any age as a result of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However or whenever you lose your hearing, it’s extremely important to deal with it. Otherwise, your health could be negatively impacted.