Hearing Loss Implications..

• Communication and speech In children (and also adults) that develop hearing loss after speech development, hearing loss can affect the quality of speech, which may be muffled and unclear if it is left untreated affects . • Cognition Language delayed cognitive development in children, which can be avoided if suitable intervention is received during the initial years of life. In older adults, unaddressed hearing loss is associated with mental and physical declines and with higher rates of age- related dementia. • Education and employment Hearing loss can have a long-lasting impact on the academic outcomes of an individual. Unless addressed in a timely manner, those with hearing loss have reduced school performance, slower progression through the academic system, a greater risk of dropping out of school, and lower likelihood of applying for higher education, compared with their hearing peers . • Lack of social engagement and loneliness, especially in older people, may further contribute to cognitive decline and depression. • Social Isolation and Loneliness Social isolation and loneliness due to hearing loss can have important implications for the psychosocial and cognitive health . • Mental Health cross the life course, people with hearing loss commonly have higher rates of depression and report lower quality of life compared with their hearing peers