Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of daily events. You might even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is far more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can result in a greater risk of mental decline
A clear link between mental decline and untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This underscores the critical importance of not holding off on treatment, as it can have negative effects on your mental function too.
Hearing loss will get worse if it goes untreated
If you care about the health of your hearing, it’s important to never neglect any symptoms of hearing loss. You unintentionally cause more damage to your hearing if you delay getting a hearing examination or hearing aids if you need them.
You might find yourself continually boosting the volume on your various devices, worsening the damage to your ears and accelerating the development of hearing loss. Using a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby delaying the development of hearing loss.
The connection to cognitive function
There’s a direct link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Research indicates that neglected hearing loss can have significant consequences on cognitive function. Over time, mental decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety brought on by social isolation.
Also, the restoration 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
The brain’s phenomenal ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity, is both a friend and a foe in this scenario. While it allows for flexibility and restoration, prolonged neglected hearing loss can lead to significant rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
However, it’s not impossible to undo these effects. In spite of previous delays in seeking treatment, utilizing hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still yield substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to address hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and mental function going forward. Call today!