Between hectic schedules and the distractions 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 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.
The link to cognitive decline
A clear link between mental decline and neglected hearing loss has been established by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
The impact on hearing
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never disregard any symptoms of hearing loss. You unintentionally cause more harm to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself constantly boosting the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying specific frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The link to cognitive function
Your brain and your hearing are closely linked. Mental function can be seriously impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, mental decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety caused by social separation.
Also, the recovery of healthy hearing function can be complicated because neglected 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. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, prolonged untreated hearing loss can result in considerable rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to return to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. In both the short and the long term, making use of hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve put off on getting treatment for some time.
Give us a call for an appointment
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Making an appointment with us as soon as you can is essential, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function going forward. Call today!
