According to a study by the National Council on Aging, untreated hearing loss can lead to depression. The study showed that those who didn’t take advantage of hearing technology were 50 percent more likely to have anxiety and depression. The research was conducted with around 2,000 people with hearing problems.
The Neglect of Hearing Loss
It is a known fact, that hearing loss goes untreated for many individuals. Although there has been numerous innovative technological advancements, in an effort to better help hard of hearing people, most people between the ages of 20 and 60 push off getting their hearing loss checked. Data from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) shows about one in three people with difficulty hearing , in the age group of 70 and above, have never tried to use a hearing-aid.
The Correlation Between Hearing Loss and Depression
Dr. David Myers, a psychology professor at Hope College in Michigan, stated that “ anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety are all common among people who find themselves hard of hearing.” Loss of hearing can also result in a difficult social life and a constant worry of missing out on life. “Many hard of hearing people battle silently with their invisible hearing difficulties, straining to stay connected to the world around them, reluctant to seek help,” says Myers. These people no longer have complete control over their lives and increase their chances of emotional distress or healthy cognitive functions.
Technology Can Help Counteract Effects of Hearing Loss
At the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, a presentation revealed that hearing aids can help decrease anxiety and depression within hard hearing people. Also, they can help improve cognitive functions. Hearing technology helps people feel less alone, less apprehensive, and less pessimistic.
Loop technology is the newest technological advancement for hearing loss. The technology mimics WiFi and delivers sound signals directly to hearing aids. “Getting people to use the latest in hearing aid technology can help them regain control of their life and achieve emotional stability and even better cognitive functioning,” says Myers.Currently, loop technology is installed in public spaces in Great Britain and Scandinavia.
