Have you been finding you’ve been struggling to keep up with conversation over the holiday dinner table this year? Do you find you have to ask people to repeat themselves more and more often? This is one of the most common signs you have hearing loss. You may not think this is a big deal or that you can put it off till later and while this is true, there are consequences. Most people wait 5 to 7 years to treat a hearing loss and over this time many negative side effects can start to mount. With the New Year approaching use this time as an opportunity that can affect your entire life. This New year’s let’s explore all the reasons why it’s a good idea to treat hearing loss.
You’ll Have More Energy
Do you find that even a small social interaction causes you to feel exhausted? Social fatigue is especially common after two years of COVID-19 and different degrees of social distancing. These issues can be further escalated by an untreated hearing loss. Hearing loss often develops gradually over time. What starts with subtle tones, can progress to larger amounts of hearing loss and you won’t even be aware. There are also parts of words and sentences that are gradually lost. This means your brain, which must process all the sounds collected by your ears, will have to strain to fill in the blanks. This can leave a person with unaddressed hearing loss feeling fatigued after a small family gathering or running errands to a degree, previously not experienced.
Hearing aids are the most common treatment for hearing impairments. When you commit to wearing hearing aids throughout the day, you’ll find your brain won’t be forced to strain. Social interactions can again fill you with a sense of connection and love instead of distance and you’ll be more likely to try new things, stay active, and have more energy in general.
Prevent Cognitive Decline
You won’t only feel more energized, but your cognitive functioning will be unhindered when you treat a hearing loss. The exhaustion due to hearing loss takes a toll on your cognitive functioning. When your brain is busy filling in the blanks in words and sentences it takes away from other brain functions such as balance and movement. This not only increases your risk of falls and accidents but can lead to lessened cognitive functioning.
Over time people with untreated hearing loss be at a higher risk for developing dementia, sooner or at all. Depending on the degree of hearing loss the risk increases. For those with mild hearing loss, the risk of dementia is doubled. For someone with a moderate case of hearing loss, the risk is tripled and for someone with profound hearing loss, the risk is five-fold! The sooner you address a hearing loss, the more you can rest assured that your brain can focus on the memories and the things you love to do for years to come.
Stay Connected to Friends and Family
Hearing loss is more than just a hearing issue but an issue that keeps you feeling distant from the people you love. Small misunderstandings over many years can build up leaving you feeling depressed, anxious, and alone – even as you are surrounded by a room full of people who care about you. A commitment to treating your hearing in 2022 not only is an investment in yourself but an investment in the relationships you’ve maintained for years. We as humans are social creatures and this time of year when the days are the shortest, feeling a sense of belonging is more important than ever.
Make an Appointment for Better Hearing
This time of year is a great time to make a change. Remember that, while resolutions can feel overwhelming if you think of them in small steps towards a larger goal. In the case of hearing loss, the first step is to simply schedule a hearing loss. Even if you aren’t aware of a hearing loss now the only way to know for sure is with regular testing. Schedule a hearing exam today and start this year out right!