Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the common condition of hearing loss. However, hearing loss often goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. This can result in greater depression rates and feelings of isolation in those with hearing loss.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. The solution to ending that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
It’s true that untreated hearing loss is connected to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. Adults older than 50 with neglected hearing loss often report feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. 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. However, people who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and the people around them – family, colleagues, and friends – also stated that they noticed improvements.
For people with hearing loss of higher than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more common. 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.
Mental health can be affected 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 get your hearing loss treated. Maybe you think your hearing is fine. You may think people aren’t speaking clearly.
You might just think it’s too costly.
It’s imperative that anyone who has dealt with symptoms of depression or anxiety, or the feeling that they are being left out of conversations because people appear to be talking too quietly or mumbling too much, have their hearing assessed. If there is hearing loss, we can discuss your options. That might be all you need to feel so much better.