When two or more conditions occur together, they are said to be comorbidities. Those with combined vision and hearing loss, known medically as dual sensory loss, have a greater risk of experiencing the comorbidities of depression and anxiety. Below we review what the research shows about this link and how to seek treatment for these conditions.
What the Research Shows
One 2021 study entitled “Combined Vision and Hearing Difficulties Results in Higher Levels of Depression and Chronic Anxiety: Data From a Large Sample of Spanish Adults” was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. The researchers are from the U.K., Spain and France.
The researchers aimed to investigate the effect of dual sensory impairment in a large sample. Individually, hearing and vision loss had already been linked to these mental health disorders.
The researchers collected data from 23,089 participants ages 15 to 103 years who were part of the Spanish National Health Survey 2017. They then analyzed self-reported rates of hearing loss, vision loss, depression and anxiety.
After analyzing the data, the researchers concluded that those who had dual sensory impairment were 3.85 times more likely to experience depression and 3.38 times more likely to experience anxiety than the general population.
According to lead study author Professor Shahina Pardhan, “Difficulties with seeing and hearing affects many aspects of everyday life. It can affect the ability to work, interaction with others and carrying out physical activity, all of which are important for emotional wellbeing. Our study has found a significantly increased risk of mental health issues like depression and chronic anxiety if people suffer both vision and hearing loss.”
Treating Sensory Loss
The gold standard of treatment for hearing loss is hearing aids, which work by amplifying sounds to a level the ears can easily detect. An audiologist at ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia can prescribe and fit you with a set of hearing aids to match your exact hearing needs.
The primary available treatment options for vision loss are glasses or contacts, which an ophthalmologist in your area can prescribe.
Treating Mental Health Conditions
There are many options for treating depression and anxiety, including:
- Regular exercise at CorePower Yoga on Clarendon Boulevard.
- Eating a balanced diet
- Time outdoors
- Therapy
- Medication
For more information or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today.