If you’re not treating your symptoms properly, hearing loss can hospitalize you. I know that seems like an exaggeration. Most people think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it hard to hear the TV or what somebody is saying at worst.
But current research is causing alarm over the long-term health effects of neglected hearing loss.
How is Your Health Related to Hearing Loss?
At first glance, hearing loss doesn’t seem to have much to do with other health indicators. But research carried out by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that over time, hospital visits can increase by as much as 50% for somebody with untreated hearing loss. The longer the hearing loss goes untreated, the more severe the health havoc get.
That seems like a curious discovery: what does hearing have to do with your total health? The answer is challenging.
The Connection Between Mental Health And Hearing
Untreated hearing loss has been connected with several other health problems, like:
- Higher instance of anxiety and depression. Basically, the chance of depression and anxiety increases with hearing loss and that will bring about health issues both physical and mental.
- Balance problems. Hearing loss can make it harder to keep your balance and keep your situational awareness.
- Memory can begin failing. As a matter of fact, your odds of getting dementia is twice as high with neglected hearing loss.
Hearing Aids Really Help
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research reveals that up to 75% of hearing loss associated mental decline can be stopped in its tracks by one basic solution: using a hearing aid.
Wearing a hearing aid has a powerful impact on putting an end to the risks connected to neglected hearing loss. The following improvements were revealed in individuals who used hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Brain function improvements.
- Improvements in awareness and balance.
- Reductions in traumatic brain injuries.
Over a period of around twenty years, Johns Hopkins accumulated and examined data from over 77,000 individuals. And a crucial part of maintaining your health lies in protecting your hearing which is a surprising outcome. Taking care of your hearing health also helps your finances, because being sick can be expensive.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is not exclusive to getting older but it is a part of it. Hearing loss can happen at any age because of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However or whenever you lose your hearing, it’s very important to deal with it. Otherwise, your health could be negatively impacted.