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Hearing impairment is one of the most common invisible handicaps of later life which drastically affect the social and psychological status of an individual. It tends to isolate people from their friends and families because of decreased ability to communicate and difficulty in understanding due to lack of adequate hearing. Studies state that 11.4 per cent of adults with hearing impairment have about moderate to severe depression while a greater percentage had mild depressive symptoms.
How are depression and hearing loss connected?
Hearing loss tends to make it difficult for people to communicate with each other. It results in misunderstandings and in certain cases people might even think that they are talking about them because they cannot follow the conversation. This can lead to fatigue, stress, and a feeling of social isolation. This social isolation is capable of leading to depression, especially in the case of an older individual.
Those who are hearing impaired may also send weaker signals to the brain which means that the brain will now have to work harder to process sounds, resulting in a loss of function at other aspects like memory, including areas that regulate depressive symptoms. This will ultimately lead to the elevation of depression in these individuals.
Watch out for signs and symptoms
It is easy to identify if you have a hearing loss. You should visit a Hearing Aid clinic in pune and if you are depressed because of the problem. You are likely showing signs of frustration, concern and stress especially when you try to make someone understand what you are trying to convey to them. Signs like difficulty in concentrating, loss of interest in hobbies, sleep changes, anger and loss of appetite are also indicative of depression. They all are capable of interfering with your normal routine, and you might assume that it is because of the hearing loss, but you must speak up about such behavioural changes if at all you feel like that.
What can be done?
There are many triggers for depression however one of the most common ones is hearing loss. Wearing a hearing aid not only helps you hear better but also helps you to socialize in the community. This would improve your relationships, your social circle and bring in the feeling of being independent and free. This can significantly boost your mental health. Training to use communication strategies can also make these individuals less isolated while in a social situation. Sometimes some aspects can be made worse because of a hearing loss and hence it is always better to consult an Audiologist and get the remedy.
Conclusion
Hearing impairments can have an impact on both professional and personal lives. The relationship between depression as well as a hearing loss might not just be due to the social effects associated with difficulties hearing. Also, there are signs that the brain has been changed due to hearing loss. The possibility is that depression may be caused by hearing impairment or even exacerbated due to it. In other words, the treatment of one issue, hearing loss, could result in a positive impact on mental health.
