Hearing loss is a common condition that can be mitigated easily with the use of hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Unfortunately, hearing loss often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. For people with hearing loss, this can bring about feelings of social-isolation and depression.
And these feelings of depression and isolation can be enhanced by the breakdown of professional and personal relationships which often accompany hearing loss. This is a horrible cycle that can be prevented, and treating your hearing loss is the solution to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is connected to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. One study of individuals with neglected hearing loss revealed that adults 50 years old and older were more likely to report symptoms of depression, along with indications of paranoia or anxiety. They were also more likely to refrain from social activities. A lot of them felt like people were getting mad at them and they didn’t know why. But when those individuals 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 more than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more prevalent. Increased depression was not reported by individuals over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But there are still a great many people who need help and aren’t receiving it.
Lack of awareness or unwillingness to wear hearing aids affects mental health
It seems as if it would be clear that you should treat your hearing loss when you read reports like this. Maybe you think your hearing is okay. You may think people aren’t speaking clearly.
Another factor could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s imperative that anyone who has dealt with symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the sense that they are being left out of conversations because people seem to be talking really quietly or mumbling a lot, get their hearing tested. We can talk about your options if we do find hearing loss. That might be all that you need to feel a whole lot better.