Understanding Hearing Loss
Hearing loss—or hearing impairment—is a reduction in your ability to hear. It can happen gradually or relatively quickly. At Beltone, we want to help you understand hearing loss and find the right solution.
Losing Connection With Friends and Family
When was the last time you laughed with a friend or family member? Socializing is key to experiencing happiness at every stage of life—but untreated hearing loss can put a strain on our most important relationships.
Do you find yourself withdrawing during family gatherings?
Have you stopped participating in casual conversations as frequently as you once did, or even avoiding them altogether?
Do your loved ones sometimes act irritated when you ask them to repeat themselves?
Social isolation brought on by hearing loss can cause or worsen symptoms of depression, so it’s important to get checked by a hearing care professional as soon as possible.
Giving Up Your Favorite Activities or Hobbies
Many of us maintain hobbies or regularly participate in activities that help to maintain our happiness through the ups and downs of life. Losing the ability to enjoy these pastimes can strain on our mental health.
Consider the ways that hearing loss might affect your ability to enjoy activities such as:
Listening to musicParticipating in sports and exercise
Watching film, theater and television
Ordering food in a restaurant
Travelling and sightseeing
Attending church or temple
Remember, if you spend a lot of time in solitary hobbies or pursing areas of interest alone, you may not notice your hearing loss as quickly as others. Not sure if you’re experiencing hearing loss? Click the link below to try our free online screening.
Putting Your Brain’s Health at Risk
When the parts of the brain responsible for hearing are no longer stimulated by everyday sounds, they become less active. This may lead to significant changes in the brain’s normal structure and functioning—similar to how muscles shrink when you stop exercising. These changes can be characterized as atrophy and are likely to contribute to cognitive decline, which could manifest as new or worsened struggles with mental health conditions such as depression.
How Can Hearing Aids Help?
If you are noticing symptoms of depression in yourself, don’t wait to speak with a medical professional who can evaluate your mental health and help you work toward a solution.
Hearing aids can help with that process, while giving you back some of the joy for life that your inability to hear took away. One recent study² showed that hearing aids can significantly reduce the risk of psychological distress from untreated hearing loss.
Today’s hearing aids are available in a range of styles to suit a variety of lifestyles, ages and types of hearing loss. Click the link below to book a free appointment with a Beltone hearing care professional and begin your journey to better hearing.
More About Untreated Hearing Loss
Dementia
Multiple major studies have found a connection between hearing loss and an increased risk for dementia. Consider the findings of a 12-year study by researchers at Johns Hopkins¹:
- Mild hearing loss doubled an adult’s risk of dementia
- Moderate hearing loss tripled the risk
- Severe hearing impairment made adults five times more likely to develop dementia
Falls
Your sense of balance depends on the vestibular system in your inner ear. Research on falls has generally focused on visual, cognitive or motor impairments. However, growing evidence suggests that hearing loss may increase a person’s risk of falling and experiencing a serious injury.
Social Isolation
Untreated hearing loss can put a strain on many aspects of your personal life. Everything from casual interactions with strangers to your closest relationships with friends and family are likely to be affected by your inability to understand speech or distinguish between the mix of sounds in your environment.
