Hearing loss is not only destructive to you in terms of not being able to communicate effectively or not being able to hear your favorite television show. The effects of hearing loss are far more varied and subtle than you may perhaps expect. In some ways, the effects of hearing loss are unquantifiable and extend far beyond simply hearing. Your senses are far more than the sum of their individual parts. In fact, you have no idea the consequences of losing a sense can have. Your ears are listening all the time. The clues about the world your subconscious is garnering all the time from them without your knowledge is hard to determine. The body is a complex biological mechanism, and any part of being out of synch can have some seriously potentially damaging consequences. The best advice anyone can offer you is that if you do experience some hearing loss, no matter how small, you should talk to an audiologist at your earliest convenience. Here is a list of some of the surprising side effects hearing loss can have.  

Stomach problems

The unfortunate fact is that hearing loss causes stress. It is a stress that you may or may not consciously be aware of at first, and this stress can manifest in various forms. First of all, you can become more and more anxious. Anxiety can have its own adverse side effects too. But more surprising is that it is not uncommon for people with hearing loss to complain about having an upset stomach. This can be mild, moderate or severe. The stomach problems can increase and you may begin to develop things such as diarrhea, constipation and abdominal cramps. All of which are not pleasant and can be avoided if you had the hearing loss looked at in the first place. As is the case for any medical condition, the longer it goes on, the worse it will become. There is the possibility that if the internal problems continue, hearing loss can lead to the potentially disabling condition known as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Cognitive health issues

Hearing loss can affect the brain in many ways, and this is very serious and can impact your life severely. The truth is that losing your hearing can actually lead to the destruction of cells in the brain that enable language cognition. A simple phrase to demonstrate this is if you don’t use it you lose it. So, not only are you dealing with hearing loss but the longer the situation goes on, the more difficult a normal social life can be to return to when you finally decide to do something about your hearing loss. The brain encounters a lot of stress associated with hearing loss. There is the simple matter of communication, but it is far deeper than that. We are hearing all the time. Most of what we hear is background noise, and the brain is comfortable with this. Take that away, then the brain gets stressed. It is thrown in to a sort of sensory deprivation and withdraws. It is trying to find the missing stimulus you have been used to. This is multiplied if the hearing loss is sudden. The shock the brain encounters with this loss of stimulus means that those who have hearing loss and do not seek help are at a greater risk of developing dementia

Dizziness and vertigo

If you have hearing loss, you may find that you have also been having increased bouts of dizziness and vertigo. This is due to the ears being vital to the body in terms of maintaining balance. The inner ear, the brain communicate and this has a stabilizing effect. Take away hearing, and this can cause you to begin to lose correct coordination. The brain is trying to make up for what it has lost and takes energy away from other areas, just to keep you standing up. This means that hearing loss can lead to more falls, and therefore, more trips to the hospital with broken wrists or hips.

Depression and mental health issues

Hearing loss can force you into isolation. It is a communication problem and can affect a person in many ways. It can be a lonely, quiet world, and this, in turn, can lead you to some very dark places. Not being able to communicate or fearing social situations because of your hearing loss is not an uncommon occurrence. If you have hearing loss, please seek medical help.  

The best thing you can do to get help for your hearing loss is to contact the Physicians Hearing Center today by calling (334) 441-4090.