• FREE CROCHET PATTERNS
    Don't have the budget to buy crochet patterns? Browse my huge collection of free patterns here, with projects ranging from amigurumi to clothing, home decor, and more! ♡
    Read more
  • CROCHET PATTERN ROUNDUPS
    Looking for inspiration for your next project? Get lots of ideas and patterns for a variety of themes, including holidays, craft fairs, keychains, no-sew amigurumis, and more! ♡
    Learn more
  • PRINTABLES
    Check out my free printables! There are printables to go along with crocheted items, printables for little ones, and printables for the home! ♡
    Learn more
Hey there!
Welcome to the Sweet Softies blog! Join me in celebrating the sweet things in life, from motherhood and education, to crafts, fashion, home, and more!

If you'd like to learn more about me, just click this button below!
WANNA KNOW MORE?
read more

A Spiral Of Silence: The Perils Of Ignoring Hearing Issues


Hearing loss is something that really announces itself. It creeps into your life slowly. Most people struggle to notice certain things, as you’d expect. When it comes to physical health, mental health and well-being, we will notice the more significant problems. Hearing is something that people delay treatment for. They will often see certain issues as somebody else’s fault or just frustrating background noise getting in the way.

Hearing issues aren’t just a small problem. They disrupt and complicate so many different aspects of life. If you ignore hearing issues, you run the risk of setting off a chain reaction that extends far beyond your ears. Your performance at work may suffer as well as things in your personal life. As time moves on, untreated hearing loss can have a huge impact on the way your brain processes things. This spiral is preventable, but only if you recognize issues and address them early.

Suffering After Social Withdrawal

People who must deal with hearing loss might find themselves pulling back from social situations. They may elect to avoid group conversations or to skip phone calls. They may simply nod along in conversations without actually understanding. This kind of thing is simply to avoid frustration or embarrassment. As the years go by, this attachment becomes their lifestyle. Friendships become weakened and so do support systems. If you can recognize the root of the withdrawal, you will be able to reconnect. Acknowledge your hearing difficulties and avoid this pain.

The Brain Must Work Harder - And There’s A Price To This

When your ears cannot pick up sounds, your brain does whatever it can to fill in the gaps. This may seem like a brilliant thing, but it’s actually detrimental as you have added cognitive load. This load steals focus and power from other functions in your mind. Over the years, this strain will cause mental fatigue and has actually been linked to dementia. It’s more than just a harmless inconvenience.

Only The Right Technology Will Help

It’s quite common for those who seek help to abandon hearing aids because they are uncomfortable or ineffective. This is typically due to a poor fit. If you experience signs of an ill-fitting hearing aid, it likely means that you are hearing whistling sounds and feeling soreness. When a device isn’t personalized exactly to your needs, it can cause even more frustration. When you receive a fitting, it’s important to follow up in order to ensure things have gone properly.

Relationships Start To Struggle Over Time

If you let hearing loss go unaddressed for too long, you will notice that your communication efforts misfire more often. Your loved ones will start to feel ignored and misunderstood. Unfortunately, arguments begin to emerge and clarity becomes few and far between. This kind of erosion is a slow process, and intimacy suffers over time. If you can recognize these issues early and treat them properly, you will be investing in the people around you and your relationships with them.