Amidst 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 a hearing aid fitting. You might even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
The connection to cognitive decline
Scientists have established a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. This underscores the crucial importance of not delaying treatment, as it can have adverse effects on your brain function also.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
If you care about your hearing health, it’s essential to never ignore 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 continually boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and speeding up the development of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the progression of hearing loss.
The connection between neglected hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately connected. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, cognitive decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety caused by social isolation.
Also, the recovery of healthy hearing function can be complicated because untreated hearing loss will force the brain to adapt 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. The brain will have a hard 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. In spite of 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.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
You should obviously find treatment as soon as possible, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to get help. If you’re ready to enjoy better hearing and stronger cognitive function, call us today for an assessment!