Problems Associated with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss means more than simply not hearing well – people with hearing loss have reported a range of problems that have a negative effect on their lives or on the lives of people around them. In fact, when hearing loss is left untreated it can quickly contribute to physical, social and psychological issues. Of course this differs on an individual basis, but the majority of individuals who experience hearing loss will suffer from one, or all of these problems on some level.

Hearing Loss and the Risks

From a psychological standpoint, untreated hearing loss can contribute to shame and embarrassment, and can also be a contributing factor in depression and low-self-esteem. Physically speaking, risks may vary but hearing loss that isn’t cared for, can lead to an increase in stress, headaches, and even increase your blood pressure.  Lastly, there are social consequences that can occur with untreated hearing impairment and these usually refer to isolating ones-self. If you are a working professional and suffering from hearing loss, you probably have more sick leave than those with normal hearing.

Hearing loss can also cause changes to the body’s immune system, increasing the risk of illness. Specifically, hearing loss is known to be linked to cardiovascular health. An individual’s heart, arteries and veins all impact the ability to hear soundly. Alternatively, if there is trauma to the blood vessels in the inner ear or if there isn’t enough blood flow, this can play a vital role in hearing loss.

To summarize these findings, it’s important to note the following consequences of untreated hearing loss:

Health

• Fatigue due to listening effort (e.g. in noisy surroundings)
• Frustration, depression
• Anger
• Increased frequency of illness and hospital visits
• Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
• Significantly increased risk of developing dementia
• Diminished psychological and overall health

Interpersonal

• Misunderstandings
• Loneliness, social isolation
• Reduced job performance and salary
• Impact on travel, activities with friends, events

Safety

• Traffic
• Alarms

With all of this in mind, studies show that those who are hearing-impaired and suffer from untreated hearing loss, usually show signs of less physical wellbeing than those with healthy hearing and patients who are hard-of-hearing who use hearing aids.

Speak to an Audiologist at Welland Optical and Hearing Centre and learn how your hearing can be professionally assessed for hearing aid care.