Hearing loss is a common condition that can be alleviated simply with the use of hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Unfortunately, hearing loss often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. This can lead to greater depression rates and feelings of isolation in those who have hearing loss.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. The key to putting a stop to that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can lead to feelings of solitude and depression for a long time now. One study of individuals with neglected hearing loss found that adults 50 years old and older were more likely to describe symptoms of depression, along with indications of paranoia or anxiety. They were also more likely to avoid social activities. Many stated that they felt like people were getting mad at them for no reason. However, those who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and the people around them – family, colleagues, and friends – also said they noticed improvements.
Another study found that people between ages 18 and 70, reported an increased sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 dB. Increased depression was not reported by people over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But there are still a lot of people who need assistance and aren’t getting it.
Mental health can be impacted by refusal to use hearing aids or to lack of awareness
With reported results like these, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to treat your hearing loss. Maybe you think your hearing is okay. You may think people are mumbling.
You may just think it’s too costly.
It’s imperative that anybody who has dealt with symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the feeling that they are being left out of conversations because people seem to be talking really quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing assessed. If there is hearing loss, we can discuss your options. That may be all you need to feel a whole lot better.