Assistive listening devices and hearing aids can be utilized to treat the prevalent condition of hearing loss. However, hearing loss frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated. This can lead to greater depression rates and feelings of solitude in those who have hearing loss.
And these feelings of depression and separation can be enhanced by the breakdown of work and personal relationships which frequently accompany hearing loss. The solution to ending that downward spiral is treating your hearing loss.
Hearing loss and depression
It’s true that untreated hearing loss is linked to experiencing depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. One study of people with neglected hearing loss revealed that adults 50 years old and older were more likely to describe symptoms of depression, along with indications of paranoia or anxiety. They were also more likely to steer clear of social activities. Many said that they felt like people were getting mad at them for no reason. But when those individuals got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social condition, and other people in their life also noted the difference.
Another study revealed that people between ages 18 and 70, reported a greater sense of depression if they had hearing loss of more than 25 dB. People over the age of 70 with self-reported hearing loss did not show a significant difference in depression rates compared to people without hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the help they require to better their lives.
Lack of recognition or unwillingness to wear hearing aids affects mental health
It seems like it would be clear that you should get your hearing loss treated when you read reports like this. Perhaps you just don’t think your hearing is that bad. You think that others are mumbling.
Another factor could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s important to get a hearing exam if you think that you are being left out of conversations or are feeling anxiety or depression. We can talk about your options if we do find hearing loss. It could help you feel a lot better.