With October being Depression Awareness Month, we’d like to share a story along with research that reminds us how proactively caring for our hearing can bring us and our loved ones joy, while nurturing healthy longevity.

Meet Emma, a 55-year-old with an active lifestyle who is struggling to hear well. Like many people, she didn’t notice at first how much her hearing loss was affecting her. Over time, conversations gradually became more frustrating.

Slowly, she began declining invitations, feeling more isolated and less motivated to do things she once enjoyed. Sadness crept in, and life began to feel quieter in more ways than one. Emma’s struggles are societally common, with hearing health and mental well-being connections being clearly important.

In representative surveys, researchers found that:

• In the U.S., it is estimated that 37 million adults have some degree of hearing loss. 1
• Among adults 18 and older, the prevalence of moderate to severe depression was 4.9% for those with excellent hearing, 7.1% for those with good hearing and 11.4% for people reporting hearing difficulty. 2
• Review of 35 studies with 147,148 participants found that older adults with hearing loss had significantly 1.47 greater odds of depression. 3

After a gentle push from her daughter, Emma scheduled a hearing check with a trusted expert. With new hearing aids and the support of her care team, she discovered not just clearer hearing, but a brighter outlook on life.

Reputable research has shown that:

• People who used hearing aids at least one hour daily were much less likely to experience depressive symptoms. 4
• A global study of 17,000 people found that hearing aid use lowers depression risk by 40%. 5
• Hearing aid use can reduce depression, boost quality of life, support cognition, and improve overall well-being. 6

In her own words, Emma expressed:

“I thought I’d lost the joy of being part of conversations forever and never realized my hearing loss was pulling me into depression. But after my hearing screening, I’m excited to gather, laugh, and celebrate this holiday season with the people I love most.”

Today, Emma looks forward to Bingo night with her friends, laughs with her grandchildren and feels more energized in her daily life. By addressing her hearing, Emma also nurtures her emotional well-being, proving that better hearing truly can lead to a happier, healthier life.

Emotional Well-Being is a precious gift which will keep on giving. Instead of suffering from anxiety, conversational misunderstandings and social withdrawal, celebrate beautiful Sights & precious Sounds with your loved ones.

It’s never too late to take control. This holiday season, prioritize hearing health and schedule a personalized consultation. Your future self, loved ones and colleagues will be Happy to Hear!

1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/1835392
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24604103/
3. https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/60/3/e137/5369884
4. https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02317.x
5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032724010176#s0040
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827325001156#:~:text=Highlight,estimating%20equation%20(GEE)%20model