Health Issues and Untreated Hearing Loss

Unattended Hearing Loss Is a Health Problem

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that around 48 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. However, only 14% of Americans seek help by being fitted for hearing aids. Unfortunately, untreated hearing problems can lead to serious health ramifications.

Loss of Hearing Health Issues

Without proper hearing care, individuals can suffer many of the following emotional, physical and psychological health conditions:

• Irritability
• Anger
• Fatigue
• Loneliness
• Withdrawing from social activities
• Dementia/ Alzheimer
• Balance problems that can lead to personal safety issues
• Depression
• Lessened alertness

In previous years, hearing loss was considered just another part of aging and it was thought not to be a threat to an individual’s health. However, doctors and hearing organizations today know that if hearing loss is not addressed, it can lead to a myriad of issues.

When your hearing begins to decline, the brain receives less auditory stimulation because it does not have to work hard to help identify sounds and other functions. If individuals don’t receive hearing care, over time, the brain’s lack of auditory hearing signals leads to memory loss, while other parts of the body that receive signals from the brain also become weaker.

Medical Reasons for Hearing Issues

The loss of hearing has several contributory reasons. Only a hearing care professional can give people a finite diagnosis of the type of auditory loss they experience, as well as prescribe a treatment. Common causes of conductive loss of hearing can include:

• Fluid in the middle ear
• Bacterial infection
• Problem with the bones of the middle ear
• Earwax buildup

In these situations, prescription drugs or possibly a surgical procedure are recommended.

Hearing better again begins with an examination of hearing devices. Many studies have found that the loss of hearing and much of its health symptoms can be alleviated or reversed by wearing a hearing device. When you go for a hearing examination, it is the first step in improving your quality of life.

If you are suffering from hearing loss, contact your local Beltone office today.