Large groups of people can be overwhelming at times with people speaking at once. It can be difficult to follow the conversation your are in amongst others. This is common for just about everyone, however if it is starting to be a more constant issue, it may signal the early signs of hearing loss. While it’s common for hearing loss to occur at any age, many start to recognize the first signs of age-related hearing loss in their 40s or 50s. It may be harder to hear at restaurants or parties, and it may especially pose a challenge to hear people speaking from another room. You may find that others complain you listen to the TV too loud and the talking over the phone may be a challenge as you turn the volume up to the max level, just hear. Still, you can get by in most situations, so what is the big deal. It’s common for people to wonder, if my hearing loss is not too bad, can’t I just put off getting hearing aids until things get worse?
Should You Wait to Get Hearing Aids?
Many people find themselves resistant for hearing aids—after all, many mistake them as a trope common with the elderly, and if you are 50 years old, you hardly can consider yourself part of this demographic. People fear that hearing aids will make them seem old or weak. In truth, hearing aids are for everyone who needs them and stigmas around hearing aids can only impact you negatively in the long run. The longer you put off treatment for hearing loss, the worse side effects can become. In truth, if you are starting to notice a hearing loss, then chances are it’s serious enough to treat!
What Happens When You Put Off Getting Hearing Aids
Our hearing is an essential sense we rely on not only to communicate with others, but to help us stay alert and connected to our environment. There are so many ramifications to letting your hearing loss go unaddressed. Not only can it have a negative impact on your relationships, but your earnings at work, your cognitive health, and your physical health!
Hearing Loss and Your Relationships
Conversations are a two-way activity and if you can’t hear what the other person is saying it’s likely to fall flat. Hearing loss is a permanent condition, so communication issues aren’t going anywhere. Overtime, even your closest relationships begin to erode and the distance can feel painful. Resentment can build in your relationships at home and with friends, as people feel you aren’t paying attention or not interested in what they are trying to say.
Hearing Loss and Your Job
Similarly, in the workplace, people will notice if you can’t hear. They may not connect it to an unaddressed hearing loss, but they may notice you commonly make mistakes and are less reactive in emergencies. This can affect earnings, chances for raises and promotions very quickly.
Hearing Loss and Your Brain
We collect sound but listening happens in the brain. Hearing loss commonly occurs when the tiny cells in the inner ear become damaged permanently, inhibiting the delivery of sound from the ears to the brain. This leaves breaks in words and sentences which not only makes it difficult to follow conversations but can be incredibly straining on your brain. Parts of your brain dedicated previously to hearing lost sounds become rerouted to other parts of the brain or in some cases brain tissue dies, causing brain atrophy. Alarmingly, those with even a moderate hearing loss are twice as likely to suffer dementia sooner or at all, later in life!
Treating Hearing Loss Early
The sooner you can detect and treat a hearing loss the sooner you will be on the road to preventing these and so many more damaging side effects of untreated hearing loss. We can test your hearing and find the best treatment specific to your hearing needs and lifestyle. The most common treatment for hearing loss are hearing aids, and these high-tech marvels improve communication, relationships, earnings, cognitive health and so much more. Contact us today and take the first step towards a higher quality of life today by scheduling your next hearing exam!