You can end up in the hospital if you don’t correctly treat your hearing loss symptoms. I know that sounds like an exaggeration. Most people think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it tough to hear the TV or what someone is saying at worst
But current research is sounding an alarm over the long-term health effects of untreated hearing loss.
How is Your Health Related to Hearing Loss?
At first sight, hearing loss doesn’t seem to have that much to do with other health concerns. But research carried out by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that neglected hearing loss can result in a 50% increase in hospital visits over time. The danger of severe health problems rises the longer hearing loss goes untreated.
That seems like a curious finding: what does hearing have to do with your overall health? The answer is complicated.
The Connection Between Mental Health And Hearing
Untreated hearing loss has been linked to a number of other health issues, like:
- Loss of balance. Hearing loss can make it harder to keep your balance and maintain situational focus.
- You begin to lose your memory. In fact, your odds of developing dementia double with neglected hearing loss.
- Higher instance of depression and anxiety. Simply stated, untreated hearing loss can increase depression and anxiety, which will then have a strong negative effect on your physical body, not to mention your mental health.
Hearing Aids Really Help
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research suggests that up to 75% of the mental decline associated with hearing loss can be stopped in its tracks by one easy solution: wearing a hearing aid.
Wearing a hearing aid has a profound impact on putting an end to the risks connected to neglected hearing loss. The following improvements were noted in individuals who wore hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Reductions in severe brain injuries.
- Balance and awareness improvements.
- Brain function improvements.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins studied data from 77,000 patients accumulated over roughly twenty years. And what they found is staggeringly simple: protecting your hearing is essential to maintaining your health. Taking care of your hearing health also benefits your finances, because being sick can be expensive.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is a perfectly common part of getting older, though it’s not exclusive to aging. Hearing loss can happen at any age as a result of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However or whenever you lose your hearing, it’s extremely important to have it checked. Your health could depend on it.