If you’re not treating your symptoms correctly, hearing loss can put you in the hospital. I know that seems like an exaggeration. Most people think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it hard to hear the TV or what somebody 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?
Hearing loss doesn’t, at first glance, seem as if it has very much of a relationship with other health concerns. But research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that over time, visits to the hospital can increase by up to 50% for somebody with untreated hearing loss. The longer the hearing loss remains untreated, the more significant the health troubles become.
That’s a curious finding: what does hearing have to do with your general health? The answer is complicated.
The Connection Between Mental Health And Hearing
Untreated hearing loss has been connected with numerous other health problems, like:
- Balance problems. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to keep your balance and keep your situational awareness.
- Higher instance of depression and anxiety. Basically, the chance of anxiety and depression increases with hearing loss and that will bring about health issues both physical and mental.
- Memory can begin failing. As a matter of fact, your odds of getting dementia double with neglected hearing loss.
Hearing Aids: An effective Solution
There’s some good news though. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research indicates 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 associated with hearing loss can be significantly reduced by using hearing aids. The following improvements were revealed in people who wore hearing aids for as little as two weeks:
- Awareness and balance improvements.
- Brain function improvements.
- Reductions in severe brain injuries.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins looked at data from 77,000 patients accumulated over around two decades. And the conclusion is staggeringly simple: safeguarding your hearing is essential to maintaining your health. Taking care of your hearing health also benefits your financial well-being, because being sick costs money.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is not exclusive to getting older but it is a part of it. Hearing loss can occur at any age because of occupational hazards, accidents, or diseases.
However or whenever you lose your hearing, it’s extremely important to address it. Your health could depend on it.