Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the common condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is frequently neglected and untreated. For individuals with hearing loss, this can bring about feelings of social-isolation and depression.
And these feelings of depression and isolation can be increased by the breakdown of work and personal relationships which frequently come with hearing loss. The solution to ending that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is linked to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. One study of people with neglected hearing loss found 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 angry at them and they weren’t sure why. But when those people got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social situation, and others in their life also noticed the difference.
For individuals with hearing loss of higher than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more common. Increased depression was not reported by individuals over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But there are still a great many individuals who need help and aren’t getting it.
Mental health can be affected by refusal to use hearing aids or to lack of awareness
With reported results like those, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to treat your hearing loss. Maybe you think your hearing is okay. You may think people are mumbling.
Another issue could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too costly or time consuming.
It’s imperative that anybody who has experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety, or the sense that they are being left out of interactions because people appear to be talking too quietly or mumbling too much, have their hearing checked. If there is hearing loss, we can talk over your options. It could help you feel a lot better.