CONTRIBUTED CONTENT – For the approximately 50 million people in the U.S. suffering from hearing loss, one of the first things that can happen is that it gets really difficult to understand others in the presence of background noise.
It isn’t a problem for people with normal hearing, said Dr. Keith N. Darrow, who is the director of audiology research at Intermountain Audiology, Chief Medical Officer for the Excellence in Audiology Network and the founder of the Hearing and Brain Centers. However, Darrow said, for those afflicted with hearing loss, a common issue they face is cognitive overload – basically, the brain is working too hard.
Learn more about how hearing loss causes cognitive overload in the “Ask a Local Expert” video in the media player above.
“It’s putting a lot of extra effort on the brain,” he said. “Living with untreated hearing loss is like driving 60 miles an hour in second gear. It wears down those gears way too quick.”
At Intermountain Audiology’s hearing clinics in St. George, Hurricane, Cedar City and Richfield, they know that the process of clear hearing is about much more than just the ears, and they believe in their ability to change a patient’s life with better hearing through a trusted relationship.
Along these lines, hearing specialists at their clinics provide cognitive rehabilitation to support a patient’s ability to hear clearly — to fully comprehend the sound around them.
With hearing loss, it’s really important to catch it early and treat it early, Darrow said.
To learn more about hearing and cognitive function, click here. For more information, or to schedule a free hearing assessment today, call 435-228-5568 or visit the Intermountain Audiology website.
For more local expert opinions on topics from bankruptcy and family law, to sleep and oral wellness, click here.
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