YES! Hearing loss can create more problems for a person the longer it goes untreated. Many people live with hearing loss and tell themselves it is not bad enough to do something about it. Untreated hearing loss leads to auditory deprivation which can cause the hearing nerve to shut down over time. If the nerve shuts down because it hasn't been stimulated for a long period of time, chances of hearing aids helping are very slim. If hearing aids are worn after the nerve has shut down, the biggest complaint is clarity. Recent studies also show that untreated hearing loss is now raising the risk for the early onset of dementia, due to lack of stimulation which results in cognitive decline. Keeping all the areas of the brain functioning to their full potential helps to decrease the risk of dementia.