Hearing loss is a common condition that can be alleviated easily by using hearing aids and assistive listening devices. But hearing loss is frequently neglected and untreated. For individuals who suffered from hearing loss, this can trigger feelings of social-separation and depression.
It can also cause a breakdown in personal and work relationships, which itself will foster more feelings of depression and isolation. This is a horrible cycle that can be prevented, and treating your hearing loss is the solution to ending that downward spiral.
Hearing loss and its connection to depression
We’ve known that hearing loss can produce feelings of separation and depression for a long time now. Adults older than 50 with untreated hearing loss frequently report feelings of depression and anxiety, according to one study. They also reported being less socially involved. A lot of them felt like people were getting angry at them and they didn’t know why. But when those people got hearing aids, they reported improvements in their social condition, and others in their life also noted the difference.
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 there are still a lot of individuals who need help and aren’t receiving it.
Lack of awareness or unwillingness to wear hearing aids affects mental health
It seems as if it would be clear that you should get your hearing loss treated when you read reports like this. Maybe you think your hearing is okay. You may think people aren’t speaking clearly.
Another issue could be that you think treating your hearing loss is too expensive or time consuming.
It’s imperative that anyone who has dealt with symptoms of depression or anxiety, or the sense that they are being left out of interactions because people appear to be talking too quietly or mumbling a lot, have their hearing assessed. If there is hearing loss, we can talk about your options. That might be all that you need to feel so much better.