How hearing loss impairs social life

Untreated hearing impairments can reduce quality of life and even cause cognitive decline

Hearing is one of the senses that helps us to communicate with others, build relationships and enjoy social interactions and failing to protect our hearing can deeply affect our mental welness.

Here, Alfonso Sánchez, Director and Audiologist at Sontec Hearing Centres, talks about the problems that people with hearing loss can encounter in their social life, and gives a number of ways to solve these issues.

How hearing loss can impair your social life

As the expert from the Malaga health clinics explains, hearing impacts every aspect of how people spend their day, from quality time with family and friends to communicating at work or simply when out and about.

Untreated hearing loss creates all kinds of social barriers and sufferers tend to isolate themselves through fear that they won’t be able to carry on a normal conversations with their peers.

Christmas and other celebrations can be a lonely time for individuals who feel marginalised, and this negative impact on a person’s social experiences can greatly reduce quality of life and lead to distress and others forms of cognitive decline such as dementia.

The importance of early care

Hearing and speaking in early childhood play a crucial role in our development. When children begin to hold conversations and form relationships with others through spoken interactions, this is the very start of an active social life.

It is vital, therefore, that any hearing impairments are picked up on as early as possible to limit the negative impact on a child’s personal and social education, and language development.

Professional help is at hand

A deterioration in hearing is often linked to age, which is why the specialists at Sontec Hearing Centres recommend that people start having this sense tested once they turn 50, especially if there is a history of hearing loss in the family. On the other hand, if parents notice that youngsters are slow to begin talking, if they turn the volume up on the TV etc., a simple hearing test can nip the issue in the bud and prevent more serious problems down the line.

Whatever your age, the specialised hearing health clinics in Fuengirola and La Cala de Mijas treat all kinds of hearing issues, offering professional and personalised customer attention using the latest technology, as well as an excellent after-sales service for hearing aid service and maintenance.

“We know how stressful life can be for people with hearing loss and how it affects all their family and friends. That's why we take a personalised approach to each case, providing you with the latest hearing technology to help you hear better. Clear and precise, even in noisy environments,” Sontec’s chief audiologist explained.

Both of the clinics offer a free, in-depth hearing evaluation from which the experts can recommend the best solutions based on the individual needs of the patient.

Sontec works with several global manufacturers of hearing aids such as Gn Resound, Phonak, Oticon, Signia and Rexton and the company collaborates with the Junta de Andalucía and the Servicio Andaluz de Salud, as well as with various organisations in the UK.

For more information, visit the Sontec website or you can email the team at info@sontec.es