Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be used to treat the common condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is often neglected and untreated. For people with hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-isolation and depression.
And these feelings of depression and isolation can be increased by the breakdown of professional and personal relationships which often come with hearing loss. The solution to ending that downward spiral is getting treatment for your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
We’ve been aware that hearing loss can produce feelings of solitude and depression for a long time now. Adults older than 50 with neglected hearing loss often report feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They also reported being less socially involved. Many said that they thought people were getting angry at them for no reason. However, people who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and those around them – family, co-workers, and friends – also stated that they saw improvements.
For individuals with hearing loss of higher than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more prevalent. Increased depression wasn’t reported by individuals over 70 who had self-reported hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to improve their lives.
Mental health can be impacted by refusal to wear hearing aids or to lack of awareness
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 think that people are mumbling.
Another factor could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too costly or time consuming.
It’s crucial to get a hearing assessment if you think that you are being left out of conversations or are feeling anxiety or depression. If there is hearing loss, we can talk about your options. That might be all you need to feel so much better.