Hearing loss is a prevalent condition that can be alleviated easily with the use of hearing aids and assistive listening devices. But a higher incident of depression and feelings of solitude happens when hearing loss is neglected and undiagnosed.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself adds to more feelings of depression and isolation. Treating hearing loss is the key to stopping this unnecessary cycle.
Research Connects Depression to Hearing Loss
Symptoms of depression have been continuously linked, according to several studies, to hearing loss. One study of people who suffer from untreated hearing loss discovered that adults 50 years or older were more likely to report symptoms of depression, along with signs of anxiety and paranoia. And it was also more likely that those people would retreat from social involvement. Many couldn’t comprehend why it seemed like people were getting mad at them. However, relationships were enhanced for those who got hearing aids, who noted that friends, family, and co-workers all noticed the difference.
Another study discovered that individuals between the ages of 18 and 70, revealed a more acute sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 dB. People over the age of 70 with a self-diagnosed hearing loss did not demonstrate a major difference in depression rates in comparison to individuals without hearing loss. But that still indicates that a large part of the population is not getting the assistance they require to improve their lives. A different study discovered that hearing aid users had a lower reported rate of depression symptoms than those individuals who suffered from hearing loss but who did not use hearing aids.
Mental Health is Impacted by Resistance to Wearing Hearing Aids
With reported outcomes like those, you might imagine that people would wish to treat their hearing loss. But people don’t seek out help for two main reasons. First, some people simply don’t recognize that their hearing is that bad. They think that others are intentionally speaking quietly or mumbling. The second factor is that some people might not recognize that they have a hearing impairment. It seems, to them, that people don’t like to talk to them.
It’s imperative that anybody who has experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression, or the sense that they are being left out of interactions because they are talking too quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing checked. If your hearing specialist finds hearing problems, hearing aid solutions should be discussed. You could possibly feel much better if you go to see a hearing specialist.
