Consequences of Untreated Hearing Loss

Those who have difficulty hearing can experience distorted and incomplete communication that seriously impacts their professional and personal lives putting an individual at risk for isolation and withdrawal. Studies have linked untreated hearing loss effects to:

• Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
• Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
• Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
• Irritability, negativism and anger
• Fatigue, tension, stress and depression
• Social rejection and loneliness
• Reduced job performance and earning power
• Diminished psychological and overall health

Many important studies have been conducted to understand hearing loss and its relation to other serious health issues such as cognitive decline, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and fall rates in older adults. When hearing loss is present at the same time as one of these health concerns, the term comorbidities is often used as it describes the presence of two or more chronic diseases or disorders affecting a person. Researchers have taken more interest in comorbidities including hearing loss as individuals who live with untreated hearing loss tend to face higher risk for other physical and cognitive issues.

¹Dementia prevention, intervention, and care, 2017, Livingston, Gill et al., The Lancet, Volume 390, Issue 10113, 2673-2734

²Hearing Loss in older adults affects neural systems supporting speech comprehension, J Neurosci. 2011 Aug 31;31(35):12638-43. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2559-11.2011.