Hearing Loss: Increases Risks of Depression & Isolation

"When left untreated, hearing loss often lads to isolation, depression and other emotional conditions that can affect both mental health and quality of life," says Sergei Kochkin, PhD, executive director of The Better Hearing Institute. "Yes, hearing loss remains one f the most commonly unaddressed health conditions in America today."

Even people with mild hearing loss begin to experience increasing levels of isolation  As the world fades to a muffle, those with more severe egress of hearing loss experience even greater degrees of isolation according to a 2010 Australian report.  Once-engaged individuals withdraw. The stigma of hearing loss and the choice to not use hearing aids prevents these social people from getting out, seeing friends or even enjoying a nice dinner.

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I can recall, specifically, a patient in his late 50's who thought he might be experiencing hearing loss.  His wife had been bugging him for years to have his hearing checked.  On a cross-country drive in early 2011, it hit him like a ton of bricks.  On that 3 day drive, he realized he and his wife had not had one single conversation.  Not one word to each other, except maybe "are you hungry?"

Know aware that maybe his wife was right, he started thinking about other aspects of his life.  He realized he had been avoiding a weekly dinner out with friends. He thought he just didn't enjoy it anymore, but now thought it was probably because he wasn't hearing well.

He was fit with hearing aids and will tell any of you that they have changed his life, his relationships and his happiness.