Skip to content

BrandAMP by AARP What's This?

A Lot to Lose: The Potential Impact of Untreated Hearing Loss

You’re in control when you know the facts

Grandfather reading to young grandson

Shutterstock

If you're among the many who suffer from hearing loss, you may be losing more than you think. One recent study found that individuals with untreated hearing loss face an increased risk of accelerated cognitive decline1.

People with hearing loss who don't use hearing aids spend less time participating in social activities, the study determined. But being socially active with friends and family can be critical to maintaining mental fitness as you age. When you avoid being social because of poor hearing, you neglect your brain's need for a regular workout. And in the same way you'd lose muscle tone if you never exercised, the researchers found, you may lose mental acuity as a result.

Earlier research supports these findings and highlights other potential consequences of unaddressed hearing loss. It can, for example, increase the risk of mood disorders like depression and anxiety and lead to frustration among friends and acquaintances1. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has called uncorrected hearing loss “a significant public health concern." Hearing, NASEM reports, is “vital to communication, health, function, and quality of life."

Doctor putting a hearing aid in woman's ear

Shutterstock

The Benefits of Hearing Aids

The good news for anyone with hearing loss is that all of those things shared above are possible to avoid with today's hearing-aid technologies. Scientists have found that people who treat their hearing loss with hearing aids are able to communicate better, see improvements in mood, and are less likely to withdraw from social activities - which in turn reduces their risk of accelerated cognitive decline.

  • So how can you know if you're a candidate for hearing aids? You can begin by asking yourself a few basic screening questions:
  • Do you find that people around you mumble or speak low?
  • Do you find it hard to follow conversations in large gatherings or when there is background noise?
  • Do you have trouble hearing phone conversations or need to turn up the volume on the radio or TV?
  • Do you often tell family and friends to repeat themselves?
  • Do you need to look directly at people to understand what they're saying?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, or if you're having trouble hearing in other situations, then it's important to get a professional hearing evaluation. Talk to your doctor about your options—and don't let your hearing loss take anything else away.

You have the power to improve your hearing so you can live a fuller life. See how Oticon’s new technology can help you or a loved one hear better. 

Take the first step to improving your hearing today. 

Click here to try an Oticon hearing aid risk-free.