When you have hearing loss, you may experience difficulty following conversations in a group setting. Due to this problem, you’re more likely to socially withdraw from visits with friends and family, which, over time, leads to depression and anxiety. People often state the thought of missing parts of conversations or misunderstanding what has been said in a work meeting, group or family setting, leave them feeling anxious.
Untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline
In addition to the impacts on your emotional wellbeing, untreated hearing loss can also affect your cognitive health. When your ability to hear declines, your brain receives less stimulation than it typically would. Over time, this lack of exercise for your brain can lead to faster cognitive decline including memory loss or even dementia. Think of your brain in the same way you think of your body; if you work out the different muscle groups of your body, you remain healthy overall. However, if you instead only focused on one specific area, the other parts of your body become weaker. This is how untreated hearing loss impacts your brain. The portion of your brain responsible for transmitting sound becomes weaker.
Benefits of wearing a hearing aid
Treating your hearing loss is the first step toward a healthier, happier life. Wearing a hearing aid can enrich your life and reopen many doors that may have closed for you over the years. Other benefits of treating your hearing loss with hearing aids include:
- Understanding conversation without having to ask people to repeat themselves frequently
- Enjoying conversation in parties and family gatherings
- Being able to carry on a conversation in your favorite noisy restaurant
- Hearing soft voices (maybe a grandchild or coworker that is typically hard to hear)
- Hearing nature again
How to get help
Hearing loss isn’t age-specific; it can affect everyone, from babies to adults. The best way to know how to get help is to schedule an appointment with one of the audiologists at Rocky Mountain Hearing & Balance. Our audiologists will be able to help determine the type and degree of hearing loss you have. From there, we will be able to suggest a type and style of hearing aid that can help you begin to live a happier, more fulfilled life.
If you think you or a loved one suffers from hearing loss, don’t delay another day. Visit Rocky Mountain Hearing & Balance and take the first step toward a world of better hearing with a 55- day trial period with hearing aids.