Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amidst the hustle and bustle of day-to-day events. You may even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. But hearing loss affects more than only your ears and delaying treatment can have detrimental effects on your entire life.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have proven a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
Naturally, it’s evident that putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for maintaining your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to further damage.
The progression of your hearing loss will be quickened if you continuously need to crank up the volume on your devices. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection to mental function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately linked. Research indicates that untreated hearing loss can have significant repercussions on cognitive function. Social isolation, often a consequence of diminished hearing, can result in mental health problems like depression and anxiety, which in turn can worsen cognitive decline over time.
Also, the recovery of normal 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 situation, neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt, can be both a friend and a foe. The brain will have a difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended untreated hearing loss.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. Despite previous delays in getting treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Call us for an appointment
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to tackle hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is important, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!