Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the common condition of hearing loss. Unfortunately, hearing loss often goes undiagnosed and untreated. For individuals with hearing loss, this can bring about feelings of social-isolation and depression.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. This is a vicious cycle that can be avoided, and treating your hearing loss is the solution to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is linked to developing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. Adults older than 50 with neglected hearing loss often report feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They also reported being less socially active. A lot of them had the feeling that people were getting mad at them and they weren’t sure why. However, people who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and those around them – family, colleagues, and friends – also said 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. People over the age of 70 with self-reported hearing loss didn’t show a big difference in depression rates compared to individuals without hearing loss. But that still means that a large part of the population isn’t getting the help they require to improve their lives.
Mental health can be impacted by refusal to use hearing aids or to lack of awareness
It seems like it would be clear that you should get your hearing loss treated when you read reports like this. Maybe you think your hearing is fine. You think that people are mumbling.
Another factor could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s important to get a hearing assessment if you think that you are being left out of interactions or are feeling anxiety or depression. We can discuss your options if we do find hearing loss. It could help you feel a lot better.