If you struggle with hearing loss, seeking treatment is essential. Unfortunately, millions of Americans who would benefit from hearing aids or other assistive listening devices currently are not using them.
Not seeking treatment doesn’t only affect your ability to hear. Research has shown that untreated hearing loss leads to a poorer quality of life. Let’s look at a few ways it can impact you.
Higher Levels of Work Stress
Work can be stressful for everyone at times. However, if you have hearing loss, you might find yourself struggling to follow along in work meetings or when speaking with clients or coworkers, either in person or virtually. You may start to worry that you’ll mishear important information or have a misunderstanding at an embarrassing moment. This can increase your feelings of stress and anxiety in the workplace.
Feeling Isolated and Lonely
Hearing loss makes it harder to communicate with others and follow conversations. This can be especially noticeable in places with background noise or where multiple people are talking at once. It can make activities like family dinners out at Broadway Pizzeria feel overwhelming and isolating instead of fun and relaxing because you can’t understand what’s being said. This lack of connection can make you feel lonely, even when spending time with loved ones.
More Mental Fatigue
With hearing loss, your brain has to work harder to process speech and other sounds. Because of this, you may find yourself experiencing mental fatigue earlier and more frequently than you used to. You may also notice that your memory doesn’t seem as sharp. When you have to put so much effort into just understanding what’s being said, you don’t have as much of a capacity to remember information.
Increased Risk for Other Health Problems
Untreated hearing loss has been associated with several different health problems. It has been linked to an increase in:
- Anxiety and depression
- Balance issues and injuries from falls
- Cognitive decline and dementia
The good news is that treatment with hearing aids or other assistive listening devices can help you avoid these problems and let you continue living your life to the fullest.
If you or your loved ones have noticed changes in your hearing, don’t delay in seeking treatment. Call the experts at Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute to schedule an appointment today.
Call Nevada Ear + Sinus Institute at (702) 735-7668 for more information or to schedule an appointment.