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A frequently discussed topic around family dinner tables is why someone should treat a hearing loss when they don’t think it’s a problem.
The answer is an untreated hearing loss won’t just lead to a long-term decline in one of your primary senses.
It also has a range of knock-on effects, both for you and your loved ones.
To coincide with Hearing Health Awareness Month, the team has put together some reasons why you should seek help rapidly about a potential hearing problem.
It affects many people
When someone demonstrates the first signs of a hearing loss, it’s often not them but their family who recognizes the symptoms.
These can be minor, like when someone turns up the television or has trouble conversing in busy restaurants.
But they can also be more clearly defined, such as if they choose to isolate themselves in quiet places for long periods.
Social problems often arise when the person with a hearing loss fails to head other’s concerns.
Over several years, this can become a bitter source of contention within families, with couples and children becoming frustrated by someone’s inaction.
It’s more than hearing
If you leave a hearing loss untreated, you won’t just be reducing the amount of sound you can hear, year on year.
You may also be doing long-lasting harm to the way your brain interprets noises.
Frequently, those with an untreated hearing loss will experience something called auditory deprivation, resulting in neurological changes.
This is when your auditory nerve, which sends messages to your brain, fails to be stimulated by certain sounds due to permanent damage.
To stop this, it’s essential to receive effective hearing care treatment, allowing a range of noises to flow freely through your ear.
Treatment becomes harder
A hearing loss can be treated successfully at any point in someone’s journey. But those that take early steps will find this experience much simpler.
This is because as your hearing declines below certain thresholds, more sophisticated forms of equipment are required to provide you with a good level of understanding.
You may also need to rely on visual cues and lip-reading if your problem is particularly severe.
However, those who take fast action will not only preserve their hearing for longer. They’ll also greatly reduce their reliance on different forms of technology.
Are you concerned about a hearing loss or know someone who might be? Contact the friendly team at one of the three Cornerstone Audiology offices, and they’d be happy to offer you further information.
