Wellness Corner…Linking Untreated Hearing Loss and Depression
By Christine Jones, Au.D., Phonak Audiology Vice President
Imagine not hearing someone during a conversation, especially in a noisy environment, like a restaurant. The awkwardness of having to ask the person continually to repeat what they said raises your embarrassment level until you stop asking. Finally, what should have been an enjoyable afternoon turns stressful because of the inability to hear and communicate.
For patients with untreated hearing loss, this situation could be an everyday occurrence, leading to anxiety, social isolation and potentially depression.
Hearing Loss Ties to Psycho-social Conditions
Untreated hearing loss has been associated with many psycho-social conditions. Studies have documented that untreated hearing loss increases the likelihood of social isolation, poorer quality of life, reduced cognition and increased depression.
The risk was greatest for the younger women (age 18-69) with hearing loss in the study.1
A recent study by Li in 2014 showed an increase in the prevalence of moderate-severe depression in adults with hearing loss (11.4%) compared to adults with normal hearing (5.9%). The risk was greatest for the younger women (age 18-69) with hearing loss in the study.1 Interestingly, the rate of depression did not increase in men with a confirmed hearing loss of moderate or greater degree.
Restricted Emotional Ratings
Hearing loss has been shown to impact one’s emotions in more subtle ways as well. Picou (2016) reported that listeners with hearing loss exhibited a restricted range of emotional ratings to non-speech sounds.2
These findings have interesting implications for amplification and whether we can prescribe amplification or process sound in ways that support a normalized emotional response.
When the environmental sounds were presented at a louder level, subjects with hearing loss rated them significantly more negatively than subjects with normal hearing. These findings have interesting implications for amplification and whether we can prescribe amplification or process sound in ways that support a normalized emotional response.
Reducing the Odds of Depression
Other findings have been more positive about the benefits of amplification. Merner and colleagues (2014) used National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to study the association of hearing loss and depression in more than 1,000 adults aged 70-79.3
…they did show that hearing aid use was significantly associated with reduced odds of depression.
While they did not find any increased risk of depression associated with hearing loss in their population, they did show that hearing aid use was significantly associated with reduced odds of depression.
In fact, two smaller prospective studies within this research showed a reduction in depressive symptoms within three months of hearing aid use.
Partner in the Quest for Healthy Aging
As healthcare providers, hearing loss and the constellation of associated risks presents an opportunity for us to take a broad approach to patients well-being. This means monitoring patients for symptoms and making necessary referrals when warranted.
The broad quality of life implications of hearing loss also raises the opportunity to document the benefits of our interventions and services more broadly. As we partner with patients and their families to support their goals related to wellness and the maintenance of a vibrant and healthy life into, it is essential that, in addition to the functional auditory impact of hearing loss, we keep the psycho-social risks in mind as well.
Resources
1.Li C, Zhang X, Hoffman HJ, Cotch MF, Themann CL, Wilson MR. Hearing Impairment Associated With Depression in US Adults, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg.2014;140(4):293–302. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2014.42
2.Picou, E. M. (2016). How hearing loss and age affect emotional responses to non-speech sounds. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 59(5), 1233-1246.
3.Mener, D. J., Betz, J., Genther, D. J., Chen, D., & Lin, F. R. (2013). Hearing loss and depression in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 61(9), 1627-1629.
Christine Jones is the Vice President of Audiology at Phonak U.S. Prior to this role, she was responsible for Phonak U.S. Pediatrics and ran pediatric clinical research in Phonak Audiology Research Center (PARC). Christine received her Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and Doctoral degree from Central Michigan University.