When talking about hearing loss, rarely are any symptoms beyond your inability to hear discussed. But untreated hearing loss can have an impact on your health and well-being.
Below is an explanation of the variety of side effects that come from choosing not to treat your hearing loss.
Decrease in Cognitive Function
Hearing loss directly impacts your brain. Your brain depends on sound information in order to navigate the world. When it is deprived of the stimuli it has come to reply on, this can impact your cognitive function.
In addition, hearing loss can cause the part of your brain responsible for processing sound to go unused. Experts believe that this may be the reason why untreated hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of developing dementia, a disease of the brain that causes a number of cognitive issues, including forgetfulness.
Issues with Mental Health
Untreated hearing loss can be an isolating disorder. As it becomes harder to follow and participate in conversations, it becomes easier to stop attending events and spending time with others. This can lead to social isolation, depression, anxiety and other disorders.
In addition, mental illness can be heightened in response to stress, a common issue that accompanies hearing loss.
Pain in the Stomach
Hearing loss can increase your levels of stress and anxiety. In addition to negatively affecting your mental health, stress can also lead to a number of physical symptoms including:
- Cramps
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
One study even linked IBS with untreated hearing loss.
Problems with Relationships
Hearing loss affects your ability to communicate with those around you, directly impacting your personal and working relationships.
When you can no longer participate in the conversation, you are missing out on being part of inside jokes, having intimate discussions and sharing experiences with loved ones.
Not only can untreated hearing loss affect you, it can be harmful for those around you. Choosing not to seek treatment tells your loved ones that staying connected with them is not a priority.
Fortunately for most, hearing loss treatment is only a phone call away. The experienced audiologists at Indiana Hearing Specialists will work with you to determine your type and degree of hearing loss and put together a treatment plan that’s right for you. Give us a call today to get started.