Hearing loss is a prevalent condition that can be mitigated easily by using hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Unfortunately, hearing loss often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. For individuals who suffered from hearing loss, this can bring about feelings of social-separation and depression.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself will foster more feelings of depression and isolation. The solution to ending that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can lead to feelings of isolation and depression for a long time now. One study of people with untreated hearing loss revealed that adults 50 years old and older were more likely to describe symptoms of depression, along with signs of paranoia or anxiety. They also reported being less socially involved. A lot of them had the feeling that people were getting angry at them and they didn’t know why. But when those people got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social situation, and others in their life also noticed the difference.
For people with hearing loss of higher than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more common. People over the age of 70 with self-reported hearing loss didn’t show a big difference in depression rates compared to individuals without hearing loss. But there are still a lot of individuals who need help and aren’t receiving it.
Mental health can be affected by refusal to wear hearing aids or to lack of awareness
It seems like it would be clear that you should treat your hearing loss when you read reports like this. Perhaps you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that others are mumbling.
You might just think it costs too much.
It’s crucial to get a hearing exam if you think that you are being left out of interactions or are feeling anxiety or depression. If there is hearing loss, we can talk over your options. It could help you feel a lot better.
