Hearing Aids can help lessen the negative effects of the prevalent condition of hearing loss. Still, a lot of hearing loss goes undiscovered and neglected – and that can lead to higher depression rates and feelings of isolation in people who suffer from hearing loss.
And it can quickly become a vicious circle where solitude and depression from hearing loss bring about a breakdown in work and personal relationship resulting in even worse depression and solitude. This is a problem that doesn’t need to take place, and managing your hearing loss is the key to ending the downward spiral.
Hearing Loss Has Been Linked to Depression by Countless Studies
Researchers have found in several studies that neglected hearing loss is connected to the development of depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new phenomenon. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and paranoia were, as reported by one study, more likely to affect people over the age of 50 who struggle with neglected hearing loss. They were also more likely to refrain from social experiences. Many couldn’t comprehend why it seemed like people were getting mad at them. However, relationships were improved for people who wore hearing aids, who stated that friends, family, and co-workers all recognized the difference.
A different study discovered that individuals between the ages of 18 and 70, reported a greater feeling of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 decibels. People over the age of 70 with a self-diagnosed hearing loss didn’t show a major contrast in depression rates in comparison to people without hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they need to improve their lives. Another study discovered that people who use hearing aids had a lower reported rate of depression symptoms than those subjects who had hearing loss but who didn’t use hearing aids.
Lack of Awareness or Unwillingness to Wear Hearing Aids Affects Mental Health
With reported benefits like those, you might think that people would need to deal with their hearing loss. But people don’t find help for two main reasons. Some people believe that their hearing is functioning just fine when it really isn’t. They have themselves convinced that others are mumbling or even that they are speaking softly on purpose. The second factor is that some people may not recognize that they have a hearing impairment. It seems, to them, that people don’t like talking with them.
If you are somebody who regularly feels like people are talking quietly or mumbling and it’s causing you to feel anxiety or even depression, it’s time for a hearing test. If your hearing specialist finds hearing problems, hearing aid options should be discussed. You could possibly feel a lot better if you consult a hearing specialist.
