The impact of not wearing a hearing aid can have severe consequences for the patient over time. Untreated hearing loss can lead to a reduction in speech discrimination (the ability to recognize and hear words) and the ability to process and filter sounds. Patients who experience success with hearing aids have good to excellent word discrimination scores on the hearing test; a good score tells us that with increased volume, the patient can hear the word and repeat it back. Over time, with untreated hearing loss, the word discrimination score decreases even when the patient is given more volume: words sound distorted and not clear. Once this happens, success with hearing aids is lower. The earlier the hearing loss is treated, the more success the patient will have with hearing aids.
Over the long term, untreated hearing loss can lead to auditory deprivation as well. The brain becomes deprived of sound for so many years and it becomes extremely challenging for the patient to adapt to hearing aids. It cannot be stressed enough that early intervention is essential with treating hearing loss and ensuring a successful outcome with hearing aids.