Hearing loss is not only a malady of the ears. The interconnected web of the body and mind mean that problems in one system or organ of the body can set off a chain reaction in other aspects of health and wellbeing. How can hearing loss contribute to poor mental health? In the first place, untreated hearing loss can have a direct relationship with mental health issues, ranging from anxiety to depression. In addition, hearing loss can set off a mechanism of indirect effects linking to mental health issues. Let’s take a moment to consider these two ways that hearing loss can contribute to poor mental health, as well as the benefits that are in store for you if you get the treatment you need.
Direct Effects
When we have trouble hearing, this limitation can cause direct mental health struggles. The prospect that a situation will be difficult to understand can lead to anxiety, worry, and avoidance. Particularly for those who know that they have hearing loss but have not yet sought treatment, that concern over communication limitations can cause anxiety in social situations. In addition to this direct causal effect on anxiety, untreated hearing loss can also cause depression. Particularly when a person feels unable to engage with the world, that limitation can cause feelings of despair and isolation. When hearing loss goes untreated, these individuals can experience serious mental health concerns as a direct effect of that limited hearing ability.
Indirect Effects
In addition to these direct effects, others can experience indirect mental health issues as a result of untreated hearing loss at the source. When a person has untreated hearing loss, conversations can be more difficult and frustrating. That frustration can make some people avoid communication more generally. Avoiding social situations can be detrimental to mental health. Social isolation is a concern for families, communities, and social networks. When a person feels socially isolated, that experience can contribute to physical, mental, and cognitive health problems. Social isolation leads to limited mobility, lack of community connections, and inadequate mental exercise. When we communicate with others, we engage with the improvisatory aspects of our cognitive functioning, a stream of guess-and-check connections between words, meanings, and more complex interpretation. Untreated hearing loss can limit our ability to exercise our brains, contributing to confusion and a dangerous mental haze. This confusion can further contribute to an unwillingness to socially engage and poor mental health as a result.
Benefits of Treatment
Despite these direct and indirect mental health problems associated with hearing loss, getting treatment can lead to a marked return to good mental health. Just as the feeling of inability and inadequacy can create poor mental health, treatment can reverse that process. Knowing that you are able to communicate and connect with others is a great way to rebuild your social relationships and to feel optimistic about the future. Getting treatment can also set off an indirect path toward positive mental health, much like the inverse among those who do not have treatment. Hearing aids make it possible to connect with others, reengage with our communities, and get mental exercise that strengthens cognition. These positive experiences can improve mental health, even relieving anxiety and depression among those who had experienced them in the past.
If you know someone with untreated hearing loss who is experiencing poor mental health, you can play a crucial role in their wellbeing by encouraging treatment. The first step is to get a hearing test. This diagnostic exam will help us understand precisely what type of sound is difficult to hear, as well as the communication environments that make conversations most difficult. When we have a full diagnosis of these needs, our hearing health professionals can recommend the right range of hearing aids that are suited to those individual needs. Getting treatment is a great way to improve wellbeing, including relieving mental health problems. If you have a loved one with untreated hearing loss, one of the best things you can do to help their mental health is to encourage a hearing test. You can even assist with making the appointment and accompany that loved one to the visit.
