Between hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too easy to put off essential appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may even find yourself hesitating to get hearing aids altogether. However, delaying treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have proven a clear connection between untreated hearing loss and mental decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will worsen if it’s neglected
Naturally, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to maintaining your auditory health. You inadvertently cause more damage to your hearing if you put off on getting a hearing exam or hearing aids if you need them.
You may find yourself constantly increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating 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 delaying the development of hearing loss.
The connection between untreated hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely connected. Cognitive function can be seriously impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, cognitive decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety brought on by social isolation.
Moreover, prolonged untreated hearing loss prompts the brain to adapt by reallocating resources from auditory processing to other functions, such as visual processing, potentially complicating the recovery of healthy hearing function down the road.
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 difficult time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for prolonged neglected hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In both the short and the long term, using hearing aids can bring considerable benefits even if you’ve held off on getting treatment for some time.
Call us for an appointment
You should obviously seek treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as possible is crucial, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!