Unfortunately, as we get older, we often experience hearing loss. Even though about 20 percent of the world’s population experiences hearing loss, it’s often disregarded as a normal part of aging. However, if you disregard hearing loss, it can have a negative impact on your overall health and well-being that goes beyond difficulty hearing.
So why is hearing loss something that people decide to just live with? The AARP polled senior citizens and found that over one-third regarded hearing loss as a minor problem easily dealt with, and half felt that hearing aids were just too expensive. However, if hearing loss goes unchecked, the health risks and consequences can cause costs to rise dramatically. Let’s explore some of the most prevalent downsides of disregarding hearing loss.
Stress and Fatigue
The connection between hearing loss and fatigue is not immediately apparent for most people. In many cases, fatigue is simply attributed to aging or medication side effects. Actually, when you struggle to hear, your brain has to do a lot of extra work to fill in the gaps, leaving you feeling fatigued. Remember when you were younger and had a grueling exam that you needed to be completely focused on? Recall how drained you felt when you finished. When you’re struggling to hear, the same thing occurs: Your brain has to burn so much energy trying to hear, and this is even more pronounced when there is a lot of background noise. When you’re tired all of the time, it’s likely that things like cooking healthy food or going to the gym are just too much to deal with.
Cognitive Decline
Hearing loss has been connected to reduced brain function, faster brain tissue loss, and cognitive decline, according to numerous studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University. While these connections are more about correlations than causations, it seems obvious that when the brain has to delegate so many resources attempting to hear, there aren’t as many left for things like comprehension and memory. Age-related mental decline can cause a greater strain on cognitive resources, and the resulting decline in brain function can lead to loss of grey matter. Also, the process of cognitive decline in seniors can be slowed when they are able to stay engaged in conversations and have regular exchanges of information and ideas. Because a connection has been established between cognitive decline and hearing loss, brain specialists and hearing specialists can come together to find future breakthroughs.
Issues With Mental Health
Of the 2,300 seniors who were involved in a study conducted by the National Council on Aging, those who left their hearing loss untreated had higher incidents of anxiety, depression, and paranoia, leading them to a greater risk of social isolation. Individuals who cope with untreated hearing loss frequently have trouble communicating with family and friends, so it’s not surprising that there would be a link between mental health problems and hearing loss. The resulting isolation can ultimately result in depression. These feelings of solitude and exclusion can eventually cause anxiety, and even paranoia. Someone who is suffering from anxiety, depression, or paranoia should talk to a mental health professional. Still, they should also get their hearing tested to see if hearing aids can help.
Heart Disease
All of the different parts of the body may seem separate and unconnected, but in fact, if one part isn’t functioning properly it can have devastating consequences on all of the other parts. The relationship between our hearts and our ears falls into this category. For example, if your heart isn’t pumping enough blood to the blood vessels in your ears, hearing loss can be the result. The nerve endings of the inner ear can be affected by diabetes, which is also linked to heart disease, causing the brain’s messaging system to scramble. Individuals who have had problems with their heart and have also noticed symptoms of hearing loss need to get a consultation with a hearing specialist and a cardiologist to find out if their hearing loss is being impacted by heart disease.
Contact us for a consultation if you’ve detected any symptoms of hearing loss so we can help you improve your quality of life.
