Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the prevalent condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is often ignored and untreated. For people who suffered from hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-isolation and depression.
It can also lead to a breakdown in personal and professional relationships, which itself contributes to more feelings of depression and isolation. The key to putting a stop to that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its link to depression
It’s true that neglected hearing loss is linked to developing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. Adults older than 50 with untreated hearing loss often report feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They were also more likely to steer clear of 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, co-workers, and friends – also said they saw improvements.
For individuals with hearing loss of more than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more prevalent. Increased depression wasn’t reported by people over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But there are still a lot of individuals who need help and aren’t receiving it.
Lack of recognition or unwillingness to use hearing aids affects mental health
With reported results like those, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to get your hearing loss treated. Maybe you think your hearing is okay. You may think people aren’t speaking clearly.
You may just think it costs too much.
It’s crucial to get a hearing assessment if you feel like you are being left out of conversations or are feeling anxiety or depression. If there is hearing loss, we can discuss your options. That might be all you need to feel so much better.