Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the common condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is often neglected and untreated. This can result in greater depression rates and feelings of separation in those with hearing loss.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself will foster more feelings of depression and solitude. This is a horrible cycle that can be prevented, and treating your hearing loss is the key to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and its link to depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can lead to feelings of solitude and depression for a long time now. Adults older than 50 with untreated hearing loss often describe 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 mad at them for no reason. However, people who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and the people around them – family, co-workers, and friends – also stated that they noticed improvements.
For individuals with hearing loss of higher than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more common. Individuals over 70 with self-reported hearing loss didn’t show a major difference in depression rates compared to individuals without hearing loss. But that still means that a large 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
With reported results like these, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to treat your hearing loss. Maybe you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that others are mumbling.
Another issue could be that you believe treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s imperative that anybody who has dealt with symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the sense that they are being left out of conversations because people appear to be talking too quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing checked. If there is hearing loss, we can discuss your options. That might be all that you need to feel so much better.