SOUND ADVICE
Q:Can hearing loss impact mental health?
A: New research shows that untreated hearing loss has a profound effect on mental state, affecting everything from temperament to perceived life satisfaction, cognition, mental and emotional issues, anger, depression, anxiety, loneliness, frustration, and decreased cognitive functioning. Let’s take a closer look at some of these effects:
Depression: Hearing loss has been linked with depression. Studies found that those with hearing loss were 50 percent more likely to experience depression. Not just feeling down once in a while, many seniors reported feelings of sadness and or depression that lasted two weeks or more. Women with hearing loss experienced higher rates of depression than men.
Cognitive decline: Cognitive decline is a significant problem that has been linked to untreated hearing loss as well. Researchers suspect that the higher risk for dementia and cognitive decline could be caused by several factors. One of these is brain reorganization, in which the hearing centers of the brain shrink and other parts of the brain previously devoted to other tasks have to step in. The result is that short-term memory or problem-solving skills deteriorate. Another suggests that straining to hear and understand sound becomes too much for the brain to handle, and again, the brain weakens as a result.
Social isolation: People with untreated hearing loss are less likely to participate in social activities than those who use hearing aids. While social isolation is a problem in and of itself, it can be yet another factor in cognitive decline and dementia.
Think of the brain like a muscle; it is “use it or lose it.” Diminished hearing leads to less brain stimulation and cognitive functioning. In short, early treatment can help improve quality of life, relationships, and communication, as well as reduce the risk of the mental health issues and cognitive decline.
If you feel you or a loved one has hearing loss, please call one of our offices to schedule an evaluation.
Dianna Randolph, AuD, CCC-A, is a Doctor of Audiology with Northwest Ohio Hearing Clinic, located at 1125 Hospital Dr., Suite 50 in Toledo (419-383-4012) and 1601 Brigham Dr., Suite 160 in Perrysburg (419-873-4327). ✲
