If you’re not managing your symptoms properly, hearing loss can hospitalize you. You may think that this is somewhat of an exaggeration. Most individuals think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it tough to hear the TV or what someone is saying at worst
But the long-term health impacts of neglected hearing loss is beginning to get serious attention from researchers.
How is Your Health Linked to Hearing Loss?
At first glance, hearing loss doesn’t appear to have that much to do with other health concerns. But research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that neglected hearing loss can result in a 50% increase in hospital visits over time. The longer the hearing loss goes unmanaged, the more significant the health troubles become.
That’s a curious finding: how is your overall state of health linked to your ability to hear? The answer is challenging.
Hearing Health And Mental Health
Untreated hearing loss has been associated with numerous other health problems, like:
- Memory can start to fail. As a matter of fact, your odds of developing dementia double with untreated hearing loss.
- An increase in anxiety and depression. Basically, the chance of anxiety and depression rises with hearing loss and that will bring about health problems both physical and mental.
- Loss of balance. Hearing loss can make it harder to keep your balance and keep your situational awareness.
Hearing Aids: An effective Answer
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research suggests that up to 75% of the cognitive decline linked to hearing loss can be stopped in its tracks by one basic solution: using a hearing aid.
The health risks linked to hearing loss can be significantly mitigated by wearing hearing aids. The following improvements were revealed in individuals who wore hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Reductions in traumatic brain injuries.
- Improvements in brain function.
- Awareness and balance improvements.
Over a period of about twenty years, Johns Hopkins accumulated and examined data from over 77,000 individuals. And a critical part of preserving your health lies in protecting your hearing which is a staggering conclusion. Taking care of your hearing health also helps your financial well-being, because being sick can be expensive.
Preserving Your Hearing And Your Health
Hearing loss is not exclusive to the aging process but it is a part of it. Hearing loss can develop at any age as a result of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge any hearing loss you might be experiencing. Your health could depend on it.