You can wind up in the hospital if you don’t properly manage your hearing loss symptoms. You might think that this is somewhat of an exaggeration. We’re used to thinking of hearing loss as little more than a hassle – something that makes the news a bit harder to hear or, at worst, makes you unknowingly agree to something you didn’t mean.
But the long-term health impacts of untreated hearing loss is beginning to get serious attention from researchers.
What Does Hearing Loss Have to do With Your Health?
At first glance, hearing loss doesn’t seem to have much to do with other health indicators. But research carried out by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that over time, hospital visits can increase by as much as 50% for someone with untreated hearing loss. The chance of severe health issues goes up the longer hearing loss goes untreated.
That seems like a curious discovery: how is your overall state of health associated with your ability to hear? That question can have a complicated answer.
Hearing Health And Mental Health
Untreated hearing loss has been connected with several other health concerns, like:
- You start to lose your memory. As a matter of fact, your odds of getting dementia double with untreated hearing loss.
- Balance problems. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to keep your balance and keep your situational focus.
- An increase in anxiety and depression. Simply stated, untreated hearing loss can increase anxiety and depression, which will then have a strong negative effect on your physical body, not to mention your mental health.
Hearing Aids: A Real Answer
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research reveals that up to 75% of the mental decline associated with hearing loss can be halted by one basic solution: wearing a hearing aid.
The health hazards connected to hearing loss can be seriously mitigated by wearing hearing aids. The following improvements were noted in people who wore hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Awareness and balance improvements.
- Brain function improvements.
- Traumatic brain injury reductions.
The team from Johns Hopkins examined data from 77,000 patients collected over around twenty years. And what they found is surprisingly simple: protecting your hearing is crucial to maintaining your health. Being sick usually costs money, so taking care of your hearing also protects your financial well being.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is a perfectly normal part of the aging process, although it’s not exclusive to getting older. Hearing loss can occur at any age because of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However, it’s essential to address any hearing loss you might be noticing. Otherwise, your health could be negatively impacted.
