Amidst hectic schedules and the disruptions of events, it’s all too simple to put off essential appointments, like those with a hearing specialist or for a hearing aid fitting. You may even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, putting off on 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 untreated hearing loss has been established by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
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. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or delaying the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to additional damage.
You might find yourself constantly increasing the volume on your various devices, exacerbating the damage to your ears and accelerating the development of hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The link between untreated hearing loss and mental function
Your brain and your hearing are intricately linked. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, mental decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety brought on by social isolation.
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 hard time reverting back to its previous state after it rewires itself to accommodate for extended neglected hearing loss.
But it is possible to undo this effect. In both the short and the long term, utilizing 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
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to deal with hearing loss. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is important, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!