Hearing loss affects more than one in 10 people in the United States.[1] The condition can make it challenging to bond with your peers, causing you to spend less time engaging socially and increasing your risk of mental health issues.
What Mental Health Conditions Are Linked to Hearing Loss?
Several studies have linked hearing loss to an increase in depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Outbursts of anger, irritability or frustration
- Loss of interest in normal activities
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Slow thinking or speaking
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of worthlessness
Feelings of depression are urgent and require immediate attention.
Can Hearing Aids Help?
Some studies show that the use of hearing aids correlates with a reduced risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and a reduction in depressive symptoms.[2] If wearing hearing aids helps you reconnect with the people in your life or reengage with the hobbies you used to love, you may notice a reduction in MDD symptoms. That said, it’s crucial to remember that hearing aids are never a direct treatment for depression. Long-lasting depressive symptoms that continue after you get hearing aids necessitate intervention from a mental health professional.
How Can a Mental Health Professional Help?
Mental health professionals are trained to help you navigate MDD and the factors contributing to it.
It’s entirely possible that your symptoms solely stem from feelings of inadequacy after you develop hearing loss—people with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of depression—but even if you know the cause, you can benefit from professional help.[3]
Because untreated hearing loss can increase your risk of depressive symptoms, it’s crucial to take a multifaceted approach to treatment. Contact us at ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today to discuss hearing aids with one of our specialists. If you experience depressive symptoms, contact a mental health professional immediately.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (2023, August 24). Hearing loss: Types, symptoms, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17673-hearing-loss
[2] Mener, D. J., Betz, J., Genther, D. J., Chen, D., & Lin, F. R. (2013). Hearing loss and depression in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61(9), 1627–1629. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.12429
[3] National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Understanding the link between chronic disease and depression. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/chronic-illness-mental-health