Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the prevalent condition of hearing loss. Unfortunately, hearing loss frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated. This can result in greater depression rates and feelings of solitude in those who have hearing loss.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself will foster more feelings of depression and solitude. The key to putting a stop to that downward spiral is getting treatment for 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. Adults older than 50 with neglected hearing loss often describe feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They also reported being less socially active. Many said that they thought people were getting angry at them for no reason. However, individuals who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and those around them – family, co-workers, 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 70 with self-reported hearing loss did not show a major difference in depression rates compared to individuals without hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to better their lives.
Mental health can be impacted by refusal to wear hearing aids or to lack of awareness
It seems as if it would be obvious that you should treat your hearing loss when you read reports like this. Perhaps you simply don’t think your hearing is that bad. You may think people aren’t speaking clearly.
You may just think it costs too much.
It’s imperative that anyone 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 about your options. That might be all you need to feel so much better.