Putting off on important appointments, like your hearing aid fitting, is all too easy amongst the hustle and bustle of day-to-day events. You may not even get around to shopping for hearing aids at all. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a misstep concerning your ears alone.
Neglected hearing loss can result in a higher risk of cognitive decline
A clear connection between cognitive decline and untreated hearing loss has been demonstrated by scientists and researchers. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will worsen if it goes untreated
Obviously, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t conducive to maintaining 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 further damage.
The progression of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Wearing a hearing aid can help mitigate this by selectively amplifying particular frequencies, thereby slowing down the advancement of hearing loss.
The connection to cognitive function
There’s a close link between your sense of hearing and your brain. Cognitive function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some significant research. Over time, cognitive decline can be worsened by depression and anxiety caused 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. While it allows for flexibility and recovery, sustained neglected hearing loss can result in significant rewiring of the brain, making it difficult to return to previous functionality.
But it is possible to reverse this effect. Despite previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver substantial benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call for an appointment
You should obviously find treatment as soon as you can, but even if you’ve delayed for a while, it’s not too late to seek help. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is essential, ensuring you can enjoy improved hearing and cognitive function moving forward. Call today!