You can end up in the hospital if you don’t correctly manage your hearing loss symptoms. You might think that this is a bit of an exaggeration. Most people think of hearing loss as an inconvenience that makes it tough to hear the TV or what somebody is saying at worst
But the long-term health effects of neglected hearing loss is beginning to get serious attention from researchers.
What Does Hearing Loss Have to do With Your Health?
Hearing loss doesn’t, at first glance, seem as if it has much of a link to other health concerns. But research conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that untreated hearing loss can lead to a 50% increase in hospital visits over time. The longer the hearing loss remains unmanaged, the more significant the health troubles get.
That’s a puzzling finding: what does hearing have to do with your general health? The answer is challenging.
The Connection Between Mental Health And Hearing
Untreated hearing loss has been associated with numerous other health issues, like:
- Balance problems. Hearing loss can make it more difficult to keep your balance and keep your situational awareness.
- An increase in anxiety and depression. Simply put, untreated hearing loss can increase depression and anxiety, which in turn can have a strong negative effect on your physical body, to say nothing of your mental health.
- Memory can begin failing. As a matter of fact, your odds of developing dementia double with neglected hearing loss.
Hearing Aids: A Real Solution
It’s not all gloom and doom, though. Far from it. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School research suggests that up to 75% of hearing loss associated mental decline can be halted by one easy solution: using a hearing aid.
The health risks associated with hearing loss can be seriously reduced by using hearing aids. According to the study, individuals who wore hearing aids for only two weeks saw:
- Reductions in traumatic brain injuries.
- Improvements in brain function.
- Improvements in awareness and balance.
The researchers from Johns Hopkins examined data from 77,000 patients collected over around two decades. And a crucial part of maintaining your health lies in safeguarding your hearing which is a staggering conclusion. Being sick usually costs money, so caring for your hearing also safeguards your financial well being.
Caring For Your Health And Your Hearing
Hearing loss is a perfectly common part of the aging process, though it’s not exclusive to getting older. Because of accidents, occupational hazards, and disease, hearing loss can occur regardless of how old you are.
However, it’s important to acknowledge any hearing loss you might be noticing. Your health could depend on it.
