Anxiety and depression caused by untreated hearing loss is a subject not often discussed, but the effects of both on an aging person shouldn’t be ignored. Healthy Hearing magazine states that depression may be psychosocial in nature, that a persistent feeling of missed connections, or being out of the loop, can be disorienting and isolating. People not able to keep up in a conversation may even start to question the worth of their presence. Anxiety is similarly affected. Like depression, stress and frustration can stem from struggling to hear in a world that may at times seem inaccessible. Having to constantly ask someone to repeat what they have said can be frustrating for all the people involved in a discussion. Eventually those with hearing loss stop participating in conversations at all.
What can the hearing individuals do to help those with hearing loss? The goal is to limit the amount of worry. Think of it this way: the more you agonize over your hearing, the more anxiety can grow into the corners of your mind. Not that an anxiety-free existence is possible, but actively trying to reduce its influence can be more than beneficial to both you and your loved ones. Always try to include those with hearing loss in conversations, especially if the discussions are about them. Try not to be dismissive or show frustration at the hearing loss or having to repeat statements. Show grace and patience.
Most importantly, don’t put off those hearing tests! Hearing checks are just as important to good overall health as seeing a medical doctor. Scheduling an appointment with your audiologist can be an important first step in your hearing recovery journey, and something as simple as showing up to your first hearing assessment can help manage your stress in a big way. Adults should have a base line hearing test at age 55. Hearing is related to overall wellness. Any change in this baseline can be an indication of health issues that need to be addressed with a physician. Hearing changes can be related to diabetes, cardiac issues, autoimmune problems, and medication.
Mitigating measures are important because hearing loss can alter the brain, as can constant anxiety and depression. The connection between depression and hearing loss may not be solely due to the damaging social effects that accompany having difficulty hearing… In other words, there are indications that the brain is rewired by hearing loss. You don’t want to fight a battle on two fronts.
When should you consider scheduling a hearing check with a professional? One of the more common symptoms is difficulty understanding speech in noisy situations. Do you say “what?” or “huh?” often? Do you often need people to repeat what they just said? If you said yes to these questions, you are using more energy than appropriate figuring out the words of a conversation. The goal is to use that energy in engaging with confidence in the conversation instead of figuring out what people are talking about.
Other questions you need to ask yourself:
Do you need to turn the TV volume louder?
Do you have difficulty conversing on the phone?
Do you have more problems understanding people when you are not looking at them?
Do you often feel like you are guessing at what people are saying?
Do you often desire not to attend group affairs or go to restaurants especially if noisy?
Often others, not the affected individual, are the first to notice a decline in hearing. Having that first conversation about the concern can be difficult, but it is important. Don’t wait to seek professional help. Call Costal Hearing and schedule a consolation with Dr. DesErmia today.
For your complimentary consultation, please call 941-229-2122