Hearing Aids can help lessen the negative consequence of the common condition of hearing loss. Still, a lot of hearing loss goes undiagnosed and neglected – and that can lead to higher depression rates and feelings of isolation in people with hearing loss.
It can also result in a strain in work and personal relationships, which itself adds to more feelings of depression and isolation. Getting hearing loss treated is the key to preventing this unnecessary cycle.
Hearing Loss Has Been Connected to Depression by Countless Studies
Researchers have discovered in several studies that untreated hearing loss is connected to the advancement of depressive symptoms – and this isn’t a new trend. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and paranoia were, according to one study, more likely to affect individuals over the age of 50 who have neglected hearing loss. And it was also more likely that that group would retreat from social involvement. Many said that they felt as if people were getting frustrated with them for no reason. However, relationships were enhanced for those who got hearing aids, who noted that friends, family, and co-workers all recognized the difference.
A more intense sense of depression is encountered, as reported by a different study, by individuals who suffered from a 25 decibel or more hearing impairment. People over the age of 70 with a self-reported hearing loss didn’t show a significant contrast in depression rates in comparison to individuals without hearing loss. But that still means that a significant part of the population is not getting the assistance they require to better their lives. And individuals who took part in a different study revealed that those people who treated their hearing loss using hearing aids had a lower depression rate.
Mental Health is Impacted by Resistance to Using Hearing Aids
It seems apparent that with these kinds of outcomes people would want to seek out assistance with their hearing loss. But people don’t find help for two principal reasons. One is that some simply don’t think their hearing is that bad. They think that others are deliberately speaking quietly or mumbling. The second factor is that some people might not realize they have a hearing loss. To them, it seems like other people don’t want to talk to them.
It’s imperative that anyone who has experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety, or the sense that they are being excluded from interactions due to people talking too quietly or mumbling too much, get their hearing examined. If there is hearing loss, that person should talk about which hearing aid is best for them. You could possibly feel much better if you consult a hearing specialist.