Hearing — along with sight, smell, taste, and touch — helps us connect with others and the world around us. When someone’s hearing isn’t as good as it could be, relationships and enjoyment of your environment can suffer. 

The impact of hearing loss on mental health is often overlooked. But being aware of this relationship can help all of those affected by hearing loss – the person with the hearing loss and those around them – address any associated mental health issues.

In this article, we’ll discuss how losing your hearing can impact your mental health. 

 

Depression and Hearing Loss

Imagine being in a loud, crowded room with cotton balls in your ears. You’re trying to listen to the person next to you or participate in a discussion with a group. But you can’t clearly hear what anyone is saying. Or, you hear words, but they don’t make any sense. Would you be able to be a part of the conversations and enjoy yourself? Probably not.

When you can’t talk with or understand conversations with family and friends, it may feel easier to withdraw and be alone than to try to participate. If you constantly ask others to repeat themselves because you either can’t hear them or misunderstand what they’re saying, they may get frustrated with your hearing loss. 

Both of these situations can lead to social isolation. Basically, being alone instead of with others.

Not surprisingly, social isolation leads to loneliness which can lead to depression. The WHO describes depression as when someone experiences a “depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities.” 

When you can’t have conversations with others or feel isolated, it makes sense that you would feel sad, irritable, or not find pleasure in activities you’ve enjoyed in the past. When you can’t hear the world around you – birds chirping, the laughs of children playing, or just the hustle and bustle of your town – you can feel disconnected, sad, or empty.

Depression isn’t the only issue people with hearing loss experience. Anxiety is also associated with hearing loss.

 

Hearing Loss and Anxiety

When you can’t clearly hear what others are saying or the world around you, it’s easy to get anxious. For example: 

• When talking with others, you may miss words or misunderstand words. Your anxiety can increase when you ask others to repeat themselves. Or, you may be embarrassed and not ask them to repeat what they said, leaving you feeling confused or like you’re missing something.
• Social situations and daily errands may become harder because you continually struggle to make sense of what people are saying. 
• You may worry that you won’t hear your phone ring or miss an alarm for an appointment. 

Anxiety is characterized by “excessive worry or fear.” Not being able to understand others or hear things happening around you can lead to anxiety.

And, the anxiety isn’t just felt by those who experience hearing loss. Their friends and family may experience anxiety because they worry about how their loved one is navigating the world and relationships. 

 

The Good News!

The good news is that correcting hearing loss can help alleviate depression and anxiety.

Once hearing loss is corrected, you can reconnect with your friends and family and hear the world around you again. You’ll take those cotton balls out of your ears and be able to participate in those discussions and activities you’ve been missing. 

A lot of people think that getting hearing aids will make them feel old, whereas the opposite is usually true – By hearing more, people become more active in conversations and are more alert, which actually makes them feel younger!

Although over 50% of Canadians over the age of 40 have measurable hearing loss, only 5% of Canadians currently wear hearing aids. Most people are completely unaware of the side effects of untreated hearing loss. That’s why I wrote this article, to address one of these side effects: Mental Health.

Where do you start? It depends on if you’re experiencing hearing loss or if it’s someone you love.

If you think you may be experiencing hearing loss, the first step to address it is to have your hearing checked by a professional Hearing Instrument Specialist. If you have hearing loss, we can work together to develop a plan for improving your hearing. I know this can be scary. That’s why we make the experience from making an appointment to having your appointment and any follow-ups as easy as possible. 

If you have a loved one who you think may have hearing loss, talking with them is the first step in helping them. We know that this may be a difficult conversation to have. We suggest bringing it up by letting them know you’re concerned about their hearing. You could even suggest making and going to the appointment with them.

We know that taking the first step towards better hearing can be difficult. That’s why we do our best to create an environment of comfort and security. We will be here when you are ready.

To make an appointment you can give me a call at (519) 271-4327, send me an email me at info@chcare.ca, or visit our website www.communityhearingcare.ca/#contact-us