{"id":6190,"date":"2019-01-11T00:01:06","date_gmt":"2019-01-11T00:01:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/?p=6190"},"modified":"2022-06-07T12:40:27","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T19:40:27","slug":"woe-is-me-the-link-between-hearing-loss-and-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/woe-is-me-the-link-between-hearing-loss-and-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Woe is Me: The Link Between Hearing Loss and Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you suffer from hearing loss<\/strong> in Tucson, your risk of developing other health conditions is higher \u2013 especially if you don\u2019t take steps to treat your impairment. There are a number of physical, social and psychological side effects of hearing loss; one of the leading conditions is depression.<\/p>\n

How Does Hearing Loss Lead to Depression?<\/h2>\n

\"Person<\/p>\n

When you struggle to follow conversations due to hearing loss,<\/a> you\u2019re likely to experience stress, anxiety, fatigue and social isolation \u2013 an emotional combination that can be a recipe for depression. Multiple studies have confirmed this correlation; the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) release a study<\/a><\/span> that found 11.4 percent of people with hearing loss suffered from depression; by contrast, 7.1 percent of those with good hearing and 4.9 percent of individuals with excellent hearing experienced depression. The highest rates of depression were found in adults aged 18 to 69. Research teams in Italy and Australia have uncovered similar results.<\/p>\n

Compounding the problem? Those who suffer from hearing loss are less likely to participate in social activities, which only serves to worsen the problem.<\/p>\n

Recognizing depression early is important. Sadness and feelings of hopelessness are the most obvious signs, while others can be trickier to spot. Fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, difficulty concentrating and a loss of interest in hobbies and other once-enjoyable activities can all be symptoms of depression. Friends and family members should be on the lookout for these and other signs.<\/p>\n

Treating Depression with Hearing Aids<\/h2>\n

In order to lessen the odds of depression<\/a>, it\u2019s crucial to treat hearing loss as early as possible. Your Tucson audiologist says the following guidelines, established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, are helpful in determining when a person might be suffering from a hearing impairment.<\/p>\n