Hearing Aids can help lessen the negative consequence of the prevalent condition of hearing loss. However, a lot of hearing loss goes undiagnosed and neglected – and that can result in greater depression rates and feelings of solitude in those who suffer from hearing loss.
It can also result in a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself adds to more feelings of depression and isolation. This is a difficulty that doesn’t need to take place, and managing your hearing loss is the best way to end the downward spiral.
Hearing Loss Has Been Linked to Depression by Many Studies
Researchers have discovered in numerous studies that untreated hearing loss is connected to the development of depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. One study of people with neglected hearing loss discovered that adults 50 years or older were more likely to document symptoms of depression, and signs of paranoia or anxiety. They were also more likely to stay away from social activities. Many said that they felt as if people were getting angry at them for no reason. However, relationships were enhanced for those who got hearing aids, who stated that friends, family, and co-workers all recognized the difference.
Another study discovered that individuals between the ages of 18 and 70, revealed a greater sense of depression if they suffered from hearing loss of greater than 25 decibels. The only group that didn’t document an increased incidence of depression even with hearing loss was people 70 years old or older. But that still indicates that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to better their lives. And individuals who participated in a different study revealed that those participants who managed their hearing loss using hearing aids had a lower depression rate.
Mental Health is Affected by Resistance to Using Hearing Aids
With reported outcomes like those, you would think that people would wish to deal with their hearing loss. However, two factors have prevented people from seeking help. Some people believe that their hearing is functioning just fine when it really isn’t. They have themselves convinced that others are mumbling or even that they are speaking quietly on purpose. The second factor is that some people might not realize they have a hearing impairment. It seems, to them, that people don’t like talking with them.
It’s imperative that anybody who has experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression, or the feeling that they are being excluded from interactions due to people talking too quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing examined. If there’s hearing loss, that person should discuss which hearing aid is right for them. You could possibly feel much better if you consult a hearing specialist.