By definition, hearing loss equates to an inability to hear well, but did you know that hearing loss affects more than hearing? Unfortunately, many people are unaware of this simple but important fact. Perhaps this is why so many individuals wait to get their hearing tested, even when they show obvious signs of hearing loss.
Contrary to common belief, hearing loss does not only impact hearing. While it can be a stand alone diagnosis, hearing loss is frequently connected with other health conditions as well. It stands to reason, then, that if hearing loss can be prevented or at least slowed, overall health may be able to be improved or other health conditions avoided.
Hearing Loss Affects More Than Hearing: Cognitive and Brain Health
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, approximately 30 million Americans over 12 years of age have hearing loss in both ears. So, if you haven’t already been diagnosed with hearing loss, there’s a good chance you could be at some point in your life.
Let’s take a look at how hearing loss affects more than hearing. That way, if/when it happens to you, you’ll be better equipped to make important decisions about your health.
- Cognitive Overload – In individuals with hearing loss, their brains are working overtime. Not only are they trying to process what they do hear but they also need to fill in the blanks for what they don’t. Energy spent on this process can take away from what’s needed for other cognitive tasks including memory or the ability to learn new things. According to recent research, hearing loss can also lead to a higher risk for cognitive disorders such as dementia.
- Brain Health – You’ve likely heard this phrase more than once in your life … “Use it or lose it.” While this certainly applies to muscle strength or something like speaking another language, it also applies to brain health. Parts of your brain will actually atrophy, or shrink, simply because you’re not using them. So if the brain regions related to hearing aren’t being stimulated, it won’t be long before those areas are no longer functional.
Hearing Loss Affects More Than Hearing: Social and Mental Health
Sound has the power to inspire, calm, and heal. When it’s muffled or lacking altogether, social and mental health can be negatively impacted.
- Social Health – Being connected to other people is a vital part of being human. After all, it’s our interpersonal connections that give meaning to life and make life worth living. Individuals with hearing loss, however, often feel their social life begin to slip along with their declining hearing. When they can’t enter into meaningful conversations or they miss out on jokes, they’re more likely to avoid social situations. This can eventually lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection.
- Mental Health – As hearing loss affects more than hearing and leads to social isolation, mental health begins to suffer as well. Individuals with difficulty hearing and impaired social interactions can be at greater risk for depression and/or a low self esteem.
How to Prevent Hearing Loss and Improve Overall Health
As with many things in life, prevention is often the best medicine. When it comes to hearing health, wearing appropriate hearing protection and avoiding repeated exposure to loud noise can help to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.
But what if you’ve done everything right and you still end up with hearing loss? After all, it IS possible to experience hearing changes simply as a byproduct of aging. In this case, hearing loss treatment is the best medicine. That means recognizing hearing loss early on and making a conscious choice to seek treatment from a hearing professional.
How can hearing loss be detected early? Get your hearing tested regularly. Just like a yearly physical can help identify some medical problems before they become more serious, periodic hearing evaluations can identify even small changes in hearing.
Conclusion: There’s no doubt that hearing loss affects more than hearing. While you may not always be able to prevent hearing loss altogether, you CAN choose to seek hearing loss treatment. Schedule an appointment with our Mesa or Scottsdale audiologists today to learn more about hearing loss, get your hearing tested, or receive appropriate hearing loss treatment.
