The most obvious symptom of hearing loss is a decrease in your ability to hear. But untreated hearing loss can negatively affect more than just your hearing; it can play a part in your physical and mental health.
Below are the most common side effects of hearing loss.
Decrease in Cognitive Ability
Hearing loss deprives certain parts of your brain of stimulation. The longer these parts go unused, the more likely they are to impact your cognitive function. In fact, multiple studies have linked untreated hearing loss with an increased risk of developing dementia.
Issues with Mental Health
Those with untreated hearing loss are more likely to isolate themselves, as it becomes easier to avoid social settings rather than struggle through them. Social isolation can lead to the development of anxiety disorders, depression and mood disorders.
Problem with Relationships
The cornerstone to any healthy relationship is communication, as talking to each other and listening are vital. While your hearing loss may seem like it just affects you, it is actually impacting everyone around you.
Increase in Fatigue
When you have hearing loss, your brain is missing out on key pieces of information about the world around you. In order to understand what is happening, your brain will try to fill in the gaps through your other senses. This can be draining, especially after spending time in a complex listening situation, such as having a conversation with a large group of people with a lot of distracting background noise. This additional effort can be tiring.
Difficulty Balancing
In addition to translating soundwaves into electrical impulses that are then sent on to the brain, the inner ear is responsible for balance. Within the inner ear are three semicircular canals full of liquid; each is responsible for detecting a different type of directional movement. This information tells your brain where your body is in space.
Issues within the inner ear can lead to balance problems, dizziness and vertigo. A study published in Achieves of Internal Medicine found that those with hearing loss are three times more likely to have a history of falling.
Now is the time to finally seek help for your hearing loss. Contact the experts at Torrance Audiology today to get started.