People avoid hearing tests for many reasons. Although they might tell you that it’s inconvenient or that they just keep forgetting to make an appointment, often a deeper concern is lurking beneath the surface. Some people refuse to believe that they have hearing loss at all. Despite evidence to the contrary, they might think they’re getting along just fine without any assistance for their hearing. Others associate hearing loss with old age or a lack of independence. They don’t want to let the world know that they have a limitation, hoping to hang onto a past vision of themselves. Still, others don’t believe that hearing aids help the problem. They might have witnessed someone fumbling with a hearing aid in frustration in the past.
That image might be enough to prevent them from seeking help, even though hearing aids have advanced remarkably from the old days. For whatever motivating reason, putting off a hearing test can make things much worse. Not only does untreated hearing loss have negative effects on your relationships and mental health, but it can make the process of cognition more difficult in general. This cognitive effect explains why those with untreated hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia than those who don’t have hearing loss. With these facts in mind, let’s take a closer look at the problems that might crop up if you live with untreated hearing loss rather than getting a test.
Mental Health and Relationships
These two factors are closely connected, and each can be negatively affected by untreated hearing loss, as well. When we struggle to communicate with others, we can do serious damage to our relationships. Not only are we breaking down the connections we have with others through stilted conversations, but we can become frustrated or even angry during the struggle to talk. That negativity can harm our relationships, making others feel as if the negativity is directed toward them rather than at the hearing loss that stands between us. Negative relationships have a strong effect on mental health, more generally. Hearing loss can make a person feel disconnected from loved ones and the community more generally. That experience of disconnection can make a person feel anxious, distressed, or depressed. For some, the struggle to communicate with untreated hearing loss is so frustrating that they’d rather avoid talking altogether. This social isolation can form a negative loop with relationships and mental health, as well.
Cognitive Decline
Research has shown a strong connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. Not only are those who have untreated hearing loss more likely to develop dementia, but the decline in mental functioning is faster, as well. What might account for this connection? Many experts point to communication as the factor that connects hearing loss and cognitive decline. We tend to use spoken language to exercise our minds, keeping them agile and sharp. When hearing loss makes communication jumbled or difficult, our brains can suffer in other ways. Brain imaging has even shown that the parts of the brain that are usually used for complex thought can be recruited for the simple task of understanding sound. This shift in brain activity might account for the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline.
The Benefits of Treatment
With these facts in mind, you can see that getting a hearing test is crucial to your future wellbeing. Although it might be tempting to put off your hearing test for any of the reasons above, the costs far outweigh any potential benefits. Getting a hearing test will point you toward getting assistance, and the benefits for communication, relationships, mental health, and cognitive functioning are undeniable. The time is now to schedule your hearing test and to learn what options are available to you for treatment. The test itself is simple, brief, and painless, and it can supply our hearing health professionals with the information they need to pair you with the right hearing aids or other assistive technology to meet your needs. We will consult about your individual experience with hearing loss, tailoring your treatment to the situations that make communication the most difficult.
