If we asked you what the consequences of untreated hearing loss are, you’d probably list things like trouble communicating, difficulty talking on the phone, relationship strain and social withdrawal. And if you did, you would be 100% correct. But there are many other ways hearing loss can affect your quality of life – one is called auditory deprivation.
What Is Auditory Deprivation?
Hearing loss doesn’t just affect the ears, it also impacts your brain.
Within your inner ears are sensory hair cells called stereocilia. These cells are responsible for converting soundwaves into electrical energy that the brain interprets as sound, and each cell is responsible for a certain frequency. When a cell becomes damaged, you can no longer detect that particular frequency, and the part of your brain responsible for processing that sound becomes assigned to other tasks.
Research has shown auditory deprivation can cause the brain to shrink, as well.
One 2014 study found this doesn’t just affect people with severe hearing loss; those with mild levels can also be affected: “Overall, our findings provide the first evidence that visual cross-modal re-organization not only begins in the early stages of hearing impairment, but may also be an important factor in determining behavioral outcomes for listeners with hearing loss,” said study authors.
Use It or Lose It
This is a phrase audiologists commonly use when they talk about the effects of auditory deprivation. “Use it or lose it” means the longer you wait to seek treatment for your hearing loss, the harder it will be for your brain to re-learn how to process those missing sounds.
You can think of your ability to process sound like the PTO you accrue at work. If you want to take your family to the Historical Charleston City Market, you have to use it before it expires. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
Can Auditory Deprivation Be Reversed?
Experts theorize that the effects of auditory deprivation may be reversible for some people. The “brain is very [flexible] and it can make a lot of changes—once it’s being stimulated, new connections can form so that it can understand more information,” explained Jenilee Pulido, Au.D., of HearCare Audiology Center in Sarasota, Fla.
One thing we do know is that treating hearing loss with hearing aids right away yields much more success in rehabilitation.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call The Hearing & Balance Center today.