Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the common condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is often neglected and untreated. For individuals with hearing loss, this can bring about feelings of social-isolation and depression.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. The solution to ending that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that untreated hearing loss is linked to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. 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 refrain from social activities. Many said that they felt like people were getting angry at them for no reason. But when those individuals got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social situation, and other people in their life also noticed the difference.
Another study revealed that people between ages 18 and 70, reported a greater sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 dB. Increased depression wasn’t reported by people over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But that still means that a large part of the population is not getting the help they need to better their lives.
Lack of awareness or unwillingness to use hearing aids impacts mental health
It seems like it would be clear that you should get your hearing loss treated when you read reports like this. Perhaps you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You might think people are mumbling.
Another factor could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s crucial to get a hearing test if you think that you are being left out of interactions or are feeling anxious or depressed. If there is hearing loss, we can discuss your options. That might be all that you need to feel a whole lot better.