You can end up in the hospital if you don’t properly manage your hearing loss symptoms. You may think that this is a bit of an exaggeration. Most people think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it difficult to hear the TV or what somebody is saying at worst
But the long-term health effects of untreated hearing loss is beginning to get serious attention from researchers.
What Does Hearing Loss Have to do With Your Health?
At first sight, hearing loss doesn’t seem to have that much to do with other health indicators. But research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that untreated hearing loss can lead to a 50% increase in hospital visits over time. The longer the hearing loss remains untreated, the more severe the health havoc becomes.
That seems like a strange finding: how is your total state of health linked to your ability to hear? That question can have a complicated answer.
The Connection Between Mental Health And Hearing
Untreated hearing loss has been connected with several other health problems, like:
- Balance problems. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to keep your balance and keep your situational awareness.
- Memory can start to fail. As a matter of fact, your odds of getting dementia double with untreated hearing loss.
- An increase in anxiety and depression. Basically, the likelihood of depression and anxiety rises with hearing loss and that will bring about health problems both physical and mental.
Hearing Aids: An effective Solution
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research suggests that up to 75% of the mental decline associated with hearing loss can be halted by one basic solution: using a hearing aid.
Wearing a hearing aid has a powerful impact on eliminating the risks associated with untreated hearing loss. The following improvements were noted in individuals who wore hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Balance and awareness improvements.
- Severe brain injury reductions.
- Brain function improvements.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins looked at data from 77,000 patients accumulated over roughly two decades. And a critical part of maintaining your health lies in protecting your hearing which is a surprising outcome. Being sick can be costly, so taking care of your hearing also protects your financial well being.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is not exclusive to getting older but it is a part of it. Because of accidents, disease, and occupational hazards, hearing loss can occur at any age.
However, it’s important to acknowledge any hearing loss you may be experiencing. Otherwise, your health could be negatively impacted.