Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amidst the hustle and bustle of day-to-day events. You might not even get around to shopping for hearing aids whatsoever. But hearing loss impacts more than only your ears and holding off on treatment can have negative effects on your whole life.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have proven a clear connection between neglected hearing loss and cognitive 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 putting off treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for preserving your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you inadvertently subject your ears to additional damage.
The development of your hearing loss will be quickened if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Wearing a hearing aid can help alleviate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby delaying the progression of hearing loss.
The link to cognitive function
There’s a close connection between your sense of hearing and your brain. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by neglected hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, cognitive decline can be exacerbated 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 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. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, extended untreated hearing loss can lead to significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to revert 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 significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
While prompt treatment is ideal, it’s never too late to tackle hearing loss. Scheduling an appointment with us as soon as you can is essential, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!