Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized 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 isolation in those who have hearing loss.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. The solution to ending that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is linked to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. Adults older than 50 with untreated hearing loss frequently describe feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They were also more likely to avoid social activities. A lot of them felt like people were getting mad at them and they weren’t sure why. However, people who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and the people around them – family, colleagues, and friends – also said they saw improvements.
Another study found that people between ages 18 and 70, reported a greater sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 dB. Increased depression wasn’t reported by people over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But there are still a great many people who need help and aren’t getting it.
Lack of awareness or unwillingness to use hearing aids affects mental health
It seems like it would be clear that you should get your hearing loss treated when you read reports like this. Maybe you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that people are mumbling.
You might just think it costs too much.
It’s essential that anybody who has dealt with symptoms of anxiety and depression, or the feeling that they are being left out of conversations because people seem to be talking really quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing assessed. We can talk about your options if we do find hearing loss. It could help you feel a lot better.
