The Link Between Hearing Loss and Mental Health in Seniors
Hearing loss is a typical problem among the elderly, whether caused by heredity, noise, disease, or aging. According to the National Institute on Aging, one in every three persons aged 65 to 74 suffers from hearing loss.
Losing your hearing capacity may significantly influence how you interact with others and experience life. It can also increase your chances of acquiring mental health conditions such as anxiety and sadness. Hearing loss and depression in older individuals often coexist. According to one study, elderly persons who are deaf are 47 percent more likely to develop depressive symptoms. Hearing loss can exacerbate mental health problems in people who already have them.
The Connection Between Hearing and Mental Health
Depression and anxiety both affect how we interact with others and the world around us. Anxiety tends to affect the way we react to the world around us and increases our sensitivity to the bad things that happen around us. Depression, on the other hand, can make us withdraw from social situations and isolate ourselves. Depression is also characterized by negative thoughts about ourselves and the world. If a person withdraws from people and has negative thoughts about them, then how will they communicate? How will they communicate about their negative thoughts?
The connection between hearing loss and mental health is clear. The more we isolate ourselves from the people and world around us, the less we can communicate and experience the good things in life. The less we communicate, the less opportunities we have to feel good.
How Hearing Aids Can Help
Hearing loss and mental health issues affect us differently, depending on which mental health issue we have. Those with severe depression are less likely to use hearing aids than those with milder forms of depression. But some of the most common benefits of hearing aids include:
Improved Relationships
Communicating with others is one of the best ways to combat negative and isolating thoughts about ourselves and those around us. A study based on older adults wearing hearing aids found that their relationships with friends and family improved along with their mental health.
Improved Quality of Life
Hearing aids can make a dramatic difference in your quality of life. If you can hear better, you can interact with others better and feel as though you are living a fuller life. That's worth it, right?
Improved Self-Esteem
Feeling better about yourself and your ability to interact with others can improve your mental health. Additionally, wearing hearing aids can help boost your self-confidence, and you'll likely feel better about yourself and your ability to interact with others.
Conclusion
Having a heart-to-heart with a loved one is one of life's great pleasures. However, when your hearing loss is severe, it can be hard to do this without feeling self-conscious. Holding a conversation through the phone or with an interpreter can be awkward and difficult.
For these reasons, it's important to take control of your hearing loss and wear hearing aids. You'll feel better about yourself, and you'll be able to hold conversations with others on a deeper level.
If you're looking for affordable hearing devices in the USA, look no further! HearGlow is one of the best places to get high-quality hearing aids that are designed to be worn discreetly and comfortably under the ear and behind the ear, for the most natural hearing experience for the wearer.
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