Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the prevalent condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is frequently ignored and untreated. For individuals with hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-separation 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 horrible cycle that can be prevented, and treating your hearing loss is the solution to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and its link to depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can lead to feelings of separation and depression for a long time now. One study of people with neglected hearing loss revealed that adults 50 years old and older were more likely to report symptoms of depression, along with signs of paranoia or anxiety. They also reported being less socially involved. A lot of them had the feeling that people were getting mad at them and they didn’t know why. But when those individuals got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social situation, and other people in their life also noticed the difference.
Another study revealed that people between ages 18 and 70, reported an increased sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 Decibels. Increased depression wasn’t reported by individuals over 70 who had self-reported 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 affected by refusal to wear hearing aids or to lack of awareness
It seems as if it would be clear that you should treat your hearing loss when you read reports like this. Perhaps you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You might think people are mumbling.
You might just think it costs too much.
It’s vital that anyone who has dealt with symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the feeling that they are being left out of interactions because people seem to be talking really quietly or mumbling too much, have their hearing assessed. If there is hearing loss, we can talk over your options. It could help you feel much better.
