Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the common condition of hearing loss. Unfortunately, hearing loss frequently goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. For people with hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-isolation and depression.
And these feelings of depression and separation can be enhanced by the breakdown of professional and personal relationships which often accompany hearing loss. The solution to ending that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is connected to developing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. One study of individuals with untreated hearing loss found 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. Many stated 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 condition, 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 Decibels. Increased depression was not reported by people over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to improve their lives.
Lack of awareness or unwillingness to use hearing aids impacts mental health
With reported results like those, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to get your hearing loss treated. Maybe you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You might think people aren’t speaking clearly.
You might just think it’s too costly.
It’s vital that anybody who has experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the feeling that they are being left out of conversations because people seem to be talking too quietly or mumbling a lot, have their hearing assessed. We can talk about your options if we do find hearing loss. That might be all you need to feel a whole lot better.