Millions of people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, which not only affects their hearing but also their health and quality of life.
Are you embarrassed to admit you have a hearing loss? Perhaps you simply compensate by asking people to repeat themselves or turning up the TV volume. However, in addition to the inevitable strain on relationships, untreated hearing loss has a number of serious consequences. The following are the most common:
- Anxiety and depression
- Cognitive decline
- Increased risk of dementia
- Mental exhaustion
- Social withdrawal
- Reduced work performance
- Safety risks
Anxiety and depression
Hearing loss can be humiliating and distressing, and it can have a significant impact on your psychological well-being. As your hearing declines, you may find it difficult to locate and interpret sounds around you. This can make you feel more insecure about where you are and who you are with, causing you to withdraw. Untreated hearing loss increases your chances of experiencing anxiety, depression, and even paranoia.
Cognitive decline
Do you have trouble remembering what you just heard? When you can't hear properly to begin with, it can be difficult to understand and remember what's being said. The additional cognitive resources required to listen deplete your resources for understanding and memory. According to a study conducted by John Hopkins Medicine, people with hearing loss experience cognitive decline up to 40% faster than those with normal hearing.
Increased risk of dementia
Hearing loss can more than double your chances of developing dementia. When you can't hear, your brain has to work extra hard to understand what others are saying. Constantly straining to hear saps your mental energy and vital brain power, which you require to perform other essential functions such as thinking and remembering. When the hearing section of your brain becomes inactive, it changes the structure and tissue of your brain, causing it to become overwhelmed.
Mental exhaustion
Do you get tired easily after spending time with a group of people? Listening takes more effort and energy than you might realise. It can be exhausting to struggle to hear specific words and constantly have to fill in the blanks. When you can't hear properly, you have to rely on your cognitive reserves more. This is why you may struggle at social gatherings or in crowds where you must concentrate harder to understand what is being said.
Social withdrawal
It's understandable if you no longer want to participate in social activities because conversations require so much more effort and energy when you have difficulty hearing. Untreated hearing loss frequently causes people to withdraw from social situations. If you do not seek help for your hearing loss, this can lead to isolation and depression. But your hearing problem isn't just annoying you; it can also affect those around you. Friendships and family relationships may suffer as a result of your untreated hearing loss.
Reduced work performance
Is your job suffering as a result of your hearing loss? Hearing loss can lead to communication problems, which in turn can lead to mistakes at work. You risk missing key information in meetings or important instructions from a colleague or your manager if you can't hear clearly. Untreated hearing loss can even lead to unemployment in severe cases.
Safety risks
Would you be able to hear your smoke alarm if there was a fire? You may be unaware of how much you rely on your hearing to keep yourself safe. You will frequently hear a car before you see it, providing you with a few crucial seconds of warning that a car is approaching around the corner. But what if you didn't hear the car coming? If you have untreated hearing loss, you may be unable to hear warnings to move out of the way. If you can't hear these warnings, you're putting yourself and others at risk, whether at work, at home, or out in the community.
What to do about hearing loss
If you have any of these symptoms, it's time to have your hearing checked by a licenced hearing care professional. There are a variety of hearing loss treatment options available that can significantly improve your hearing. These are some examples:
- In-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids
- Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids
- Receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Bone-Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA)
While you may not be able to fully restore your hearing, an effective treatment can significantly improve your hearing and quality of life.
The sooner you get a hearing test and address your hearing loss, the sooner you will regain your confidence, sharpness, and control over your life. Treating your hearing loss as soon as possible will allow you to put an end to the numerous negative consequences of untreated hearing loss.
It's ideal to keep yourself as educated with your hearing aids and a new breakthrough in the technology. Ask your query via Book an Appointment today. For more information visit https://hearing.careinc.ca or you can call us today at (403)605-6300