People who live with hearing loss have to deal with a number of practical difficulties. This article will cover some lesser known effects of noise-induced hearing loss.
Effects on the Brain
Studies show that aging people with noise-induced hearing loss have decreased brain plasticity. By having to process distorted noise, our brains can become less effective.
Decreased speech recognition is one of the most obvious effects of noise-induced hearing loss. Research says that hearing loss also decreases brain mass. Hence, it makes cognitive processes more difficult.
Memory is impacted as well. For example, a person with hearing loss may have more difficulty remembering a particular word.
This topic requires further study. In particular, it’s important to discover the cognitive effects of hearing loss on children and young adults. Due to the widespread use of earbuds and other devices, there’s an increased risk of noise-related hearing issues in this demographic.
Effects on Skin Sensitivity and Heart Rate
Trying to complete a task with hearing loss puts extra strain on the whole body.
Scientists have found that people with hearing loss show greater skin sensitivity than others while working on a task. Additionally, heart rate variability is lower than it should be. This may be do to the impact of hearing loss in the nervous system, which is responsible for both skin sensitivity and heart rate. But, why does this happen
Working with decreased or distorted noise input places an increased stress on the nervous system. Hence, the effects of noise-induced hearing loss are similar to the way we respond to an extremely tense or overwhelming situation.
A Final Word
In most cases, hearing aids or therapy can help reduce these effects. So people with hearing loss should look into treatments as soon as possible. After all, they should take every opportunity to protect themselves from unnecessary stress.
