Because hearing loss is a progressive condition, many people are not even aware they have it until it reaches a stage it becomes difficult to treat. According to Sarah Sydlowski, Au.D., Ph.D., “The transition to a hearing aid is easier when hearing loss is milder… It’s less effort for your brain to get used to the different sound quality.”
Despite this, most people do not seek treatment for their hearing loss once they are diagnosed; in fact, the average person waits seven years between getting a hearing test and purchasing their first pair of hearing devices!
The Impact of Hearing Loss
The biggest impact of hearing loss is on your ability to communicate. When you have untreated hearing loss, you may find yourself constantly trying new strategies to understand your loved ones or questioning whether you heard them correctly.
“If you’re experiencing hearing loss, you probably expend a lot of energy to stay connected,” Dr. Sydlowski said. “You have to think about how you position yourself or who you sit next to. You have to focus intensely so you don’t miss key parts of a conversation.”
In the long run, these difficulties can cause you skip activities you once enjoyed and become withdrawn from your friends and family members. It is well documented that social isolation can lead to depression and even cognitive decline.
The Benefit of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids work by amplifying sounds to a level you can hear and understand. Today’s hearing aids include incredible features such as invisible or nearly invisible designs, Bluetooth connectivity, automatic programming and smartphone compatibility.
For people with severe to profound hearing loss, there are other options, like bone anchored hearing aids and cochlear implants.
“There are many benefits to addressing hearing loss,” explained Dr. Sydlowski. “Hearing aids can help you maintain and even enrich relationships with friends and family members… The people who care about you want to have good conversations. When you can’t fully participate, it affects the quality of your relationships.”
For more information about the difference hearing aids can make in your life, contact an audiologist at The Hearing & Balance Center today!
Learn about Hearing Aids:
Our Central Charleston Area Audiologists Office Locations
Mount Pleasant
180 Wingo Way, Suite 103
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 766-7103
West Ashley
2295 Henry Tecklenburg Dr
Charleston, SC 29414
(843) 766-7103