Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
We live in a world where we are increasingly busy, there’s always something that needs doing, people to catch up with, kids to ferry around, the list goes on, and when it comes to your health, it’s something that can be pushed down to the bottom of the list and ignored.
Hearing health is very important, but out of all your health complaints, it’s something that gets ignored more than most. But if you’ve been procrastinating and putting off going to an audiologist and getting your ears checked, then it’s time to get it sorted and here’s why:
Hearing Loss Affects Your Brain
Many people don’t realize that hearing is a brain function, your ears collect the sound, and then your brain translates it into recognizable noises that alert us to danger, gives us the information we need to have a conversation with someone or allows us to enjoy the chorus of our favourite song. According to a study from the University of Colorado’s Department of Speech and Hearing, when you are suffering from hearing loss, your brain reassigns the part devoted to hearing to other senses, such as your sense of sight and touch and this is called Brain Atrophy.
There Is Risk Of Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Brain atrophy in older adults could be the reason why people with untreated hearing loss are more at risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. A study by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care and another from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that treating your hearing loss may be one way to lower your risk of developing these conditions.
There Is Risk Of Falling
Do you know your ear has a lot to do with your balance? That’s why if you have to stand on one leg, holding your ear can help you. Therefore it’s not that surprising to know that hearing loss can lead to an increased risk of falling. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the National Institute of Aging have found that even a minor case of hearing loss triples the risk of an accidental fall.
It Affects Your Emotional Health
According to a study by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, eleven per cent of people who have untreated hearing loss also had depression, compared to only five per cent of the general population. There was also another study by the National Council on Aging which found that out of 2,300 hearing-impaired adults over the age of 50, those with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety and paranoia, and less likely to participate in organized social activities compared to those who wear hearing aids.
It Can Affect Relationships
Hearing loss can affect your relationships with family, friends and coworkers and a British study found that the breakdown in communication resulted in the loss of romantic relationships, including marriages. When people are suffering from hearing loss, they will also feel frustration, resentment, loneliness, social isolation, difficulty communicating, a reduction in shared activities, loss of companionship and a decrease in communication.
