None of us like hearing news that is negative in nature, especially when it comes to being diagnosed with hearing loss. We often prefer to ignore our hearing problems, pretending as though they don’t exist. No matter how hard we try to deny it, our hearing problem will catch up with us one day or another. It is best to be prepared when it does.
Hearing loss is an irreversible condition, which is why the earlier it is diagnosed, the better your chances of being able to find effective treatment methods. The longer you wait to get your hearing tested, the worse the problem becomes. Not only does your hearing suffer, but untreated hearing loss has negative consequences on your overall physical, psychological, and social health.
Unfortunately, Johns Hopkins found in a recent study that a majority of people tend to wait for around 10 years before they finally seek help for their hearing impairment. Hearing loss is the third most common health ailment that afflicts elderly adults. In fact, 1 in every 3 individuals aged above 65 have some kind of hearing impairment.
People are not always in denial about their hearing problem. Sometimes, they may genuinely be unaware that they do indeed have hearing loss. This is because loss of hearing is a gradual process that takes years to manifest itself. In the beginning, you might miss out on a few words occasionally when listening to others when they speak, but this frequency increases over time. The moment you find yourself having constant trouble hearing what others are saying, it is definitely time to get your hearing tested.
Hearing loss has its own set of difficulties that it poses. It can cause social isolation as you feel increasingly left out of conversations at the dinner table. People may show visible frustration at constantly being asked to repeat what they said to you, which might make you reluctant to attend social gatherings. Your communication with your spouse and children may suffer, and as a result, you may have strained relationships and even depression. All of this comes as part and parcel of an untreated hearing impairment.
If you ignore your hearing loss, you are putting yourself at risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and even injuries due to loss of balance. Physiological changes occur when your brain is unable to process sound correctly, which can lead to exhaustion of the brain cells and lead to dementia. Over time, a myriad of health problems may manifest themselves simply due to an untreated hearing problem.
You can prevent all the negative consequences of untreated hearing loss simply by getting your hearing tested by a hearing care professional. If necessary, invest in some hearing aids and you will find that you are able to take back control of your life. Delaying your hearing test can have serious negative consequences, so don’t wait until it’s too late.