Hearing loss is undertreated among adults, despite evidence that hearing aid technology can
reduce depression and anxiety and improve cognitive functioning, according to a presentation at
the American Psychological Association Annual Convention.
“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,” David Myers, PhD, of Hope
College in Holland, Michigan, said in a press release.
David Myers
A study from the National Council on Aging with a cohort of 2,304 individuals with hearing loss
found that participants who did not use hearing aids were 50% more likely to experience ![]()
sadness
or depression than participants who did wear them.
Additionally, individuals who used hearing aids were significantly more likely to regularly
participate in social activities.
Another study, published in the Archives of Neurology, found that hearing loss may be a risk
factor for dementia. Years of sensory loss may increase susceptibility to dementia, according to
the study’s researchers.
Further, ![]()
social isolation, which is common among individuals with hearing loss, is a known risk
factor for dementia and other cognitive disorders, Myers said.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, individuals with hearing loss wait an
average of 6 years from the first symptoms of hearing loss before seeking treatment, and adults
aged 20 to 69 years who have hearing loss are 50% less likely to use hearing aids compared with
adults aged 70 years or older.
In addition to denial, vanity and less awareness of how much they are missing are reasons for
this delay, according to Myers, who has hearing loss.
“Anger, frustration, depression and anxiety are all common among people who find themselves
hard of hearing,” according to Myers. “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.”
Reference:
Myers D. A quiet world: the psychology of hearing and hearing loss. Presented at: American
Psychological Association Annual Convention; Aug. 6-11, 2015; Toronto.