Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the prevalent condition of hearing loss. However, hearing loss frequently goes undiagnosed and unaddressed. For individuals with hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-separation and depression.
And these feelings of depression and isolation can be increased by the breakdown of professional and personal relationships which often accompany hearing loss. This is a vicious cycle that can be prevented, and treating your hearing loss is the key to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that untreated hearing loss is connected to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. 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. A lot of them had the feeling that people were getting angry at them and they weren’t sure why. However, individuals who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and those around them – family, colleagues, and friends – also said they saw improvements.
For people 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 significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to better their lives.
Mental health can be affected by refusal to use 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. Maybe you believe your hearing is okay. You may think people are mumbling.
You may just think it costs too much.
It’s important to get a hearing assessment if you feel like you are being left out of conversations or are feeling anxious or depressed. We can discuss your options if we do find hearing loss. That may be all you need to feel a whole lot better.