Understanding the relationship between hearing loss and mental health

The United Nations states that more than 1.5 billion people around the world experience hearing loss. According to recent estimates, this number could increase to over 2.5 billion people by 2030.¹

Image credit: Amplivox UK

Communication is essential to building healthy relationships and positive emotions. In addition to diagnosing hearing loss, it is also important for medical professionals to consider the impact on a patient’s mental health.

What is the relationship between hearing and mental health?

Communication is an important aspect of being human. Our life experiences and our ability to form fulfilling relationships are based on the ease with which we communicate with others.

Losing your ability to hear and understand things clearly affects your ability to connect with others and can cause you to withdraw from the rest of the world. This forced isolation significantly increases the risk of developing mental health problems. Therefore, our communication skills are inherently related to our mental health.

How does hearing loss affect our mental health?

Communication, defined as “the transmission or exchange of information,” is affected by hearing loss. People with hearing loss may have difficulty reacting or reacting appropriately.

Not being able to fully participate in communication can cause embarrassment, anger, disappointment, or frustration for people with hearing loss. Some people experience feelings of paranoia and may suspect that others are talking about them, behave socially inappropriately, or simply stop communicating altogether. .²

Children and adults facing hearing loss may experience mental fatigue. This may lead to people refraining from large gatherings in noisy environments. This self-imposed isolation may feel easier at first, but it can lead to long-term feelings of loneliness and depression.²

People who suffer from hearing loss may feel like outsiders in their own families, observing rather than feeling involved in things. On the other hand, environmental noise can also harm the physical and mental health of hearing people.

“Environmental noise is a pervasive pollutant and one of the greatest environmental threats to mental, physiological and psychological health, with associated significant global health burdens.”³

Noise pollution can cause stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also affect a child’s cognitive development. As a result, research on the role of hearing in mental health is increasing.

We are now becoming more aware of the link between hearing loss and the development of dementia, and the positive impact of early intervention.^Four

How does untreated hearing loss affect my mental health?

Untreated or inadequately treated hearing loss can have serious consequences for patients.

• People with untreated hearing loss may avoid social interactions because they have difficulty dealing with complex sound environments. Mishearing or misunderstanding can cause anxiety and worry, which can lead to feelings of social isolation and loneliness.
• Loss of hearing means severe loss. As with any loss, there is a period of grieving that involves feelings of anger, resentment, and sadness. This can lead to the development of depression.

Losing some or all of your hearing has a negative impact on the auditory nerve and auditory pathway system. This reorganized brain function has led to accelerated cognitive decline, impacting the brain’s ability to remember, learn, concentrate, and make decisions.^Five

There is also a strong link between hearing loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. The odds of dementia are twice as high in people with mild hearing loss and three times as likely in people with moderate hearing loss.^Four

Strategies for Coping with Hearing Loss

Hearing loss does not define a person’s identity or prevent them from living a full and enjoyable life. Recently, great advances have been made in diagnostic and treatment options. As a result, hearing loss can now be effectively treated and managed in ways that were not possible just a few years ago.

As with almost everything, hearing loss can get worse if left untreated, so early intervention is important. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma surrounding the use of hearing aids, and many people delay receiving help.

2020 Survey Conducted by the National Council of Aging⁶ Now that we know that hearing aid use reduces the risk of psychological distress associated with hearing loss, it is important to try to change these negative perceptions.

There are many approaches to help people experiencing hearing loss feel empowered and engaged in their own limitations and available options. Depending on the type of hearing loss, the following treatments may be available:

• listening aid device
• Hearing aid or hearing aid system
• auditory training
• medicine
• surgery

Hearing therapists are increasingly working with doctors and audiologists to help people identify problems associated with living with hearing loss. Counseling is also suggested for those facing the grief of hearing loss and can help develop healthy coping skills and strategies.

Hearing loss education and support

Early intervention is key to diagnosing hearing loss and identifying mental health issues. Deafness doesn’t have to define a person. Therapeutic interventions combined with support for your personal mental health and well-being can help you live a full and enjoyable life.

It’s important for people with hearing problems to understand that they are not alone. Several organizations are working to raise hearing loss education and awareness through knowledge and support. Here is a list of recommendations:

• audiology online
• Ida Research Institute
• RNI:D

References and further reading

1. United Nations, United Nations News. (2022) More than 1 billion people at risk of hearing loss: WHO. Access: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113182
2. Bess F, Hornsby B. National Library of Medicine. (2017) Explanation: Listening can be tiring – fatigue in children and adults with hearing loss. Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5603232/
3. Liu CM, Lee CT. The relationship between hearing loss and dementia. JAMA net open. 2019 July 3;2(7):e198112. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8112. PMID: 31365110; PMCID: PMC6669778.
4. Dr. Robin T. Bigelow. (2020) Association between hearing loss and psychological distress and use of mental health services among adults in the United States. JAMA net open. Access: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2768374
5. S.C.I.E. (2020) Dementia and sensory loss: hearing loss. Visit: https://www.scie.org.uk/dementia/living-with-dementia/sensory-loss/hearing-loss.asp
6. National Council on Aging. (2021) Can hearing loss affect the mental health of older adults?. Access: https://www.ncoa.org/article/can-hearing-loss-affect-mental-health-in-older-Adults

wider reading

• Narozny W, Tretiakow D, Skorek A. National Library of Medicine. (June 2021) Tinnitus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Otorhinolaryngology J. 2021 Jun;100(3_suppl):197S-198S. doi:10.1177/0145561320988364. Epub 2021 January 20th. PMID: 33470830. Access: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33470830/
• Morgan Jones RA. (2001) Hearing Differences: The Impact of Hearing Loss on Family Life. London and Philadelphia: Whurr Publishers, 2001
• Evans M, Fisher EB. National Library of Medicine. (January 2022) Social isolation and mental health: The role of non-directive and directive social support. Community Men Health J. 2022 Jan;58(1):20-40. doi: 10.1007/s10597-021-00787-9. Epub March 3, 2021. PMID: 33660137. Access: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33660137/
• Robb CE, de Jager CA, Ahmadi-Abhari S, Giannakopoulou P, Udeh-Momoh C, McKeand J, Price G, Car J, Majeed A, Ward H, Middleton L. Front Psychiatry. (September 2020) Association between social isolation and anxiety and depression during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: A study of older adults in London, England. 2020 9 17;11:591120. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591120. PMID: 33132942; PMCID: PMC7566017. Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.591120/full
• Tai SY, Shen CT, Wang LF, Chien CY. BMC new roll. (February 2021) Association between sudden sensorineural hearing loss and dementia: a national cohort study. 2021 2 25;21(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02106-x. PMID: 33627087; PMCID: PMC7904508. Access: https://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-021-02106-x
• Rowley DG, Kelly ME, Kelly GA, Brennan S, Lawler BA. JAMA Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Associations between age-related hearing loss and cognitive function, cognitive impairment, and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2018 Feb 1;144(2):115-126. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2017.2513. 2018 Feb 1;144(2):176. PMID: 29222544; PMCID: PMC5824986. Access: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/2665726
• Lin FR, Metter EJ, O’Brien RJ, Resnick SM, Sondermann AB, Ferrucci L. JAMA Neurology. (February 2011) Development of hearing loss and dementia. Arch new roll. 2011 Feb;68(2):214-20. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362. PMID: 21320988; PMCID: PMC3277836. Access: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291
• Thomas W. Weikert. National Library of Medicine. (2014) The role of dopamine in schizophrenia from a neurobiological and evolutionary perspective: outdated but still prevalent. Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4032934/
• M. Burley. healthy hearing. (2020) Understanding auditory deprivation: Why untreated hearing loss is bad for your brain (2020). Evaluation location: https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/46306-Hearing-loss-auditory-deprivation
• Hearing link service. (2022) hearing loss and counseling. Visit: https://www.hearinglink.org/living/adjusting-to-hearing-loss/hearing-loss-and-counshing/

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