- There is a link between untreated hearing loss and early onset of dementia/cognitive decline appearing within 8 years, yet the average time people wait to seek hearing treatment is 10 years.[1]
- Hearing loss can lead to social isolation (loneliness that can affect health). People who are socially isolated have little day-to-day contact with others, have few fulfilling relationships, and lack a sense of belonging. [1]
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Social isolation can increase the risk for poor eating, smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise, depression, dementia, poor sleep, and heart disease. [1]
Hearing loss can significantly diminish the quality of life, not only for the person with hearing loss, but it also has an impact on those around them—parents, teachers, employers, friends, family, and other loved ones.
[1] Lin, F. The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss. John Hopkins Medicine.
