How Does Hearing Loss Lead to Depression?

Hearing loss can affect people’s lives in all kinds of ways. It can make them feel more vulnerable when they leave the house, impact job performance and transform their relationships. For many people, hearing loss can also lead to depression, which can severely hamper their quality of life.

The relationship between hearing loss and depression

For years, researchers have known about the link between hearing loss and depression. People who are hard of hearing, they found, are much more likely to develop depressive symptoms. The cause of the relationship, however, is quite convoluted. Partly it has to do with the hearing loss itself and partly it involves the knock-on effects of being unable to hear the world around you. People with hearing loss, for instance, often find it more challenging to engage in conversations with others. Their brains have to work much harder to process the incoming sounds, leading to fatigue and the desire to withdraw. They’re continually asking themselves whether they have interpreted questions correctly or understood a problem. And often, they don’t know whether they have or not. Some people with hearing loss soldier on regardless, asking the other person to speak louder or repeat themselves. But most find this approach too exhausting. For many, retiring from the conversation is the more comfortable option. And here’s where problems can arise. As social beings, people need contact with others to feel happy and fulfilled. It is a rare soul who can live a full and meaningful life in isolation. Most people with hearing loss need the company of friends and family to keep their spirits high and lives moving forward. Hearing loss, however, has a nasty habit of encouraging people to isolate themselves. They can’t make out what’s being said, so they don’t get the same level of enjoyment from social interactions. Eventually, the prospect of going out with friends becomes something that fills them with dread. They don’t want to spend the evening asking people to speak up or repeat themselves. It makes them feel awkward and tired. Spending time alone, though, doesn’t solve the problem. After a while, some people with hearing loss can develop symptoms of depression, reducing their quality of life. Studies by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders found that people with hearing loss are more than twice as likely as the general population to develop depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the condition appeared to affect younger people with hearing loss more than those over the age of 69. Hearing loss can lead to depression through other channels too. For instance, people who are hard of hearing typically find it more challenging to progress in their careers. They’re not as able to communicate with the people around them, compromising their capacity to advance in the workplace. Some people living with hearing loss can even lose their jobs and become unemployed. Not having work is also associated with depression, so losing your hearing can have both direct and indirect impacts on your mental health.

What can you do about hearing loss and depression?

The good news is that you don’t have to put up with hearing loss or the depression that follows. You can do something about it. Your first task is to find out the source of your hearing loss. Doing this will tell you the type of treatment that you need. If hearing loss is temporary because of impacted earwax, for example, then you can go to a specialist to have it removed. If it is permanent, then you may benefit from a hearing aids. Once you have a diagnosis, your ENT doctor will provide further advice on how to proceed. With the right interventions, you can often restore your hearing to the point where social interactions are no longer a strain. You can make your life look similar to the way it was before your hearing loss started. Doctors are also becoming better at identifying the symptoms of depression and recommending treatment. So, you can take a two-pronged approach, both targeting the hearing loss and the resulting depression.

What to do next

If you have hearing loss and you are feeling depressed, you don’t have to accept your predicament. With the help of an ENT doctor, you can get treatment for hearing loss and depression. The earlier you seek help, the better. If you have hearing loss, depression, or a combination of both, get in touch with ENT Specialists today by calling (402) 983-9948.