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Hearing loss is frustrating for those who face it and for their loved ones. Living with untreated hearing loss not only impacts your ability to hear, but is also detrimental to your mental and social well-being. You might find that your untreated hearing loss start to have a bearing on your relationships or even start to infringe on your performance at work.
If you think that untreated hearing loss ends there, think again. Recent research has shown that the effects of hearing loss are far-reaching and can cause mental health issues like depression, cognitive decline such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, and even physical falls and fractures.
Hearing Health, Social Isolation, and Depression
When hearing loss goes untreated, you may find that you are isolating yourself from normal social circles that you were once part of. The reason for this is due to the decline in ability to communicate and engage with friends, family, or co-workers. The inability to fully communicate pushes one to the fringe and impacts our social well-being.
A National Council on Aging (NCOA) study found that people with untreated hearing loss are significantly less likely to participate in social activities than those who use hearing aids. While social isolation is a problem in and of itself, research shows that it can be yet another factor in leading to depression. The NCOA studied over 2300 subjects with hearing loss and found that those experiencing it were 50% more likely to succumb to depression. This goes to show that “this study debunks the myth that untreated hearing loss…is a harmless condition,” said James Firman, president and CEO of NCOA.
Hearing Loss and Physical Complications
Hearing loss is not only linked to just depression; it also impacts our physical state as well, especially with the heightened risk of falls. A study conducted by the John Hopkins School of Medicine, led by Dr. Frank Lin, showed the correlation between hearing loss and falls among older adults. The researchers studied both hearing loss and vestibular function – the balance mechanism of the inner ear that provides sensory information and spatial orientation.
The study found that both environmental and spatial awareness were impacted in those experiencing hearing loss, leading to more falls and accidents. More interesting though, is that researchers pointed to overworked cognitive resources as a hindrance to balance. This means that those with hearing loss were using more of their mental capital in order to listen and communicate, thus depleting it in order to maintain balance.
The results from the study showed that even a mild degree of hearing loss tripled the risk of accidental falls. The risk of falling increases by over 140% with each additional 10 decibels of hearing loss. Potential falls could ultimately lead to cuts and bruises, fractures or broken bones, or even concussions.
Hearing Health Leads to Cognitive Decline
Similar to depression and physical falls, cognitive decline too has been linked to untreated hearing loss. A large study published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery found that untreated hearing loss can lead to a wide variety of other medical conditions, including dementia. Researchers suspect the higher risk for dementia and cognitive decline among those with untreated hearing loss are due to an idea called brain reorganization. A University of Colorado study explains it when hearing centers of the brain shrink causing other parts of the brain previously devoted to other tasks to take over. This results in brain functions such as short term memory or problem solving skills to deteriorate.
Another explanation is that the strain of transmitting or decoding sounds may have something to do with cognitive decline and dementia according to studies from John Hopkins and the National Institute on Aging. Ultimately, straining to understand while faced with untreated hearing loss is too much for the brain to handle.
Get Your Hearing Tested Today with Audiology Consultants
Have you or a loved one experienced changes in your hearing ability? Do you find yourself struggling with communication at the workplace? Treating your hearing loss with application of a hearing instruments greatly improves your ability to engage in conversation. Contact us at Audiology Consultants to schedule a hearing test today!