When we first think about hearing loss, we fear the idea of losing the ability to hear the sounds and conversations around us. But hearing loss is not only about losing the ability to hear: if left untreated, it has serious hidden risks.
What are these risks? In addition to losing the ability to hear, there are emotional, cognitive, and social effects. We need to understand that untreated hearing loss is not a harmless condition and it can potentially do much more harm than just the loss of hearing.
Emotional Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss
Untreated hearing loss can have emotional effects on you or your loved one. There are many studies that link untreated hearing loss to a number of emotional health conditions. Some conditions include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Depression and anxiety
- Anger and denial
- Social withdrawal
By leaving hearing loss untreated, these emotional health conditions can build up over time and drastically change your everyday life. What at first is irritability as you strain to hear, leads to fatigue and depression. Long-term, you may develop anger and even denial. This can escalate to overall social withdrawal and become a major impact on your emotional health.
Cognitive Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss
A second hidden risk to untreated hearing loss is the effect on cognitive health. Not treating hearing loss leads to your brain receiving less stimulation. Over time, it no longer needs to work to identify different sounds. Think of it as exercise. Without the need to discern between sounds, your brain is not “working out” as much, making it weaker which can lead to memory loss or even dementia.
Social Effects of Untreated Hearing Loss
The last, (and often seen as the most devastating) hidden risk to untreated hearing loss are the social effects. The first reaction you or your loved one may have when experiencing hearing loss is to avoid social situations. The inability to hear conversations and the discomfort from being in loud places naturally leads you to avoid such social interactions. However, over time, what was first a choice of avoidance turns into long-term social isolation. You start having less day-to-day contact with others and eventually lose your sense of belonging. The extreme scenario would be to live with complete social rejection and loneliness.
Treat Hearing Loss Early: Our Clinics Are Here to Help
Knowing that there are these hidden risks to untreated hearing loss reminds us that it is important to take care of even the earliest signs of hearing loss. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss, a good place to start treatment is to take a hearing test. Treating hearing loss at its early stages can help everyone avoid these hidden risks. Book an appointment with one of our clinics for a free hearing test now!