Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the common condition of hearing loss. But hearing loss is frequently neglected and untreated. For people with hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-isolation and depression.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself will foster more feelings of depression and solitude. The solution to putting a stop to that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can lead to feelings of solitude and depression for a long time now. Adults older than 50 with neglected hearing loss frequently describe 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 angry at them and they didn’t know why. However, individuals who got hearing aids reported improvements in their relationships, and the people around them – family, co-workers, and friends – also stated that they saw improvements.
For people with hearing loss of more than 25 decibels, who were between 18 and 70 years old, depression was more common. People over the age of 70 with self-reported hearing loss did not show a big difference in depression rates compared to individuals without hearing loss. But there are still a lot of individuals who need help and aren’t getting it.
Mental health can be impacted by refusal to wear hearing aids or to lack of awareness
With reported results like these, it seems like a no-brainer that you would want to get your hearing loss treated. Perhaps you simply don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that people are mumbling.
You might just think it’s too costly.
It’s crucial to get a hearing test if you feel like you are being left out of interactions or are feeling anxiety or depression. If there is hearing loss, we can talk about your options. That might be all that you need to feel a whole lot better.