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 might even find yourself hesitating to order hearing aids altogether. However, putting off on treatment for hearing loss is a lot more than just a mistake concerning your ears alone.
The link to mental decline
Scientists have demonstrated a clear link between neglected hearing loss and mental decline. This is one reason why delaying treatment is never a good plan.
Hearing loss will get worse if it goes untreated
Obviously, it’s evident that delaying treatment for hearing loss isn’t helpful for maintaining your auditory health. By avoiding appointments with a hearing specialist or holding off on the purchase of hearing aids, you unintentionally subject your ears to further damage.
The development of your hearing loss will be accelerated if you constantly need to crank up the volume on your devices. Hearing aids can boost particular frequencies of sound thereby delaying the development of hearing loss.
The link to mental function
Your brain and your hearing are closely linked. Mental function can be severely impacted by untreated hearing loss according to some substantial research. Over time, cognitive decline can be exacerbated by depression and anxiety caused by social separation.
Also, the restoration of healthy hearing function can be complicated because neglected 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 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 neglected hearing loss can lead to significant rewiring of the brain, making it challenging to return to previous functionality.
However, it isn’t impossible to undo these effects. In spite of previous delays in seeking treatment, using hearing aids as prescribed by a specialist can still deliver significant benefits in both the short and long term.
Give us a call 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. Making an appointment with us as soon as possible is important, ensuring you can enjoy better hearing and cognitive function going forward. Call today!
