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 lead to greater depression rates and feelings of solitude in those with hearing loss.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and solitude. The solution to putting a stop to that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its link to depression
We’ve been aware that hearing loss can lead to feelings of separation and depression for a long time now. One study of individuals with untreated hearing loss found 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 felt like people were getting angry at them and they weren’t sure why. But when those people got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social situation, and others in their life also noted the difference.
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 did not show a significant 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 need to better their lives.
Lack of recognition or unwillingness to wear 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 simply don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that people are mumbling.
You may just think it’s too costly.
It’s vital that anybody who has experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety, or the feeling that they are being left out of conversations because people seem to be talking really quietly or mumbling a lot, get their hearing assessed. We can talk about your options if we do find hearing loss. It could help you feel much better.