While hearing loss is most prevalent in the older generations, the reality is that people of all ages can experience problems with their hearing. Different causes of hearing loss can result in auditory problems even in the earliest stages of life. Regardless of when the signs of hearing loss start to show up, the most important thing that you can do is address the problem by meeting with an audiologist.
The reality is that hearing treatments are important for more than physical health. Optimal hearing is also an essential element to support a person’s emotional health. In this article, we are taking a closer look at why untreated hearing loss has such a strong impact on emotional health.
When a person is starting to lose their hearing, it becomes difficult to participate in daily conversations – especially in large group settings. Even if the person isn’t aware of the reason they are struggling during the social interactions, it often leads to social withdrawal.
For example, someone might feel unusually tired after a social gathering. Since their hearing is impaired, it requires the brain to work harder in an attempt to process all of the sounds and information. As a result, it’s possible that you might feel more fatigued than normal compared to someone with healthy hearing. This experience can occur in any type of social setting, such as parties, family gatherings, or even workplace meetings.
Difficulty with conversations and social withdrawal eventually leads to a sense of isolation and loneliness. Humans have an innate need to be part of a community, and if a person doesn’t feel connected, then it can take a toll on their mental health.
How does it feel to be mentally exhausted all the time because of the constant strain to hear and participate in conversations? Even if a patient isn’t aware of the way these daily interactions are affecting them, there’s no question that the stress and anxiety can start to take a toll over time.
One common scenario is that hearing loss causes misunderstandings in communication and relationships. Even seemingly simple conversations can result in undue stress if the communication is not understood correctly. So, a person with hearing loss might start to develop social anxiety because they are often running into conflicts with other people because of misunderstandings.
Stress can also occur when someone isn’t hearing important cues in daily living, such as someone calling out or an alarm that is sounding. When these cues are missed, it can cause a person to experience a sense of insecurity.
Did you know that researchers have found a connection between untreated hearing loss and higher rates of depression? If hearing loss is left untreated, feelings of frustration and isolation can really take a toll over time, which can contribute to a person’s mental health problems.
As the patient loses confidence and their self-esteem drops, it’s likely that they will have symptoms of depression.
They might not be aware of their emotional fatigue, but these underlying emotions can have an undeniable impact on a person’s happiness and well-being. It is quite tiring to deal with the constant effort necessary to keep up in a hearing world.
Also, consider the many ways that relationships are negatively affected when one or both partners are experiencing hearing loss. Relationship communication can be challenging even when both partners are able to communicate clearly. But add in hearing loss, which has a negative impact on effective communication, and these relationship challenges can be exacerbated.
When a person misunderstands their loved ones because they are unable to communicate properly due to hearing issues, then it leads to communication breakdowns. Not only does hearing loss impact romantic relationships, but connections with family and friends can start to deteriorate as well.
Both the person living with hearing loss and their loved ones can feel frustrated and helpless, causing tension to build in the home. It’s a never-ending cycle: the tension increases daily stress, which makes it even harder to communicate effectively.
If a person feels misunderstood or ignored in a relationship, then it can break down the connection between two people. Communication and understanding are key factors to ensuring a solid foundation in a relationship, but it can be difficult to maintain these things when one person is struggling with misunderstandings related to hearing loss.
Recent research studies have found that there is a connection between untreated hearing loss and cognitive decline. If a person is unable to hear clearly and they aren’t receiving proper treatment, then it affects mental functioning and can increase the risk of experiencing cognitive issues earlier in life.
There’s no question that cognitive decline takes a toll on emotional health. If someone is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease or other types of cognitive conditions, then it leads to a sense of frustration in themselves and others around them.
Over time, hearing loss has a compounding effect on both emotional and mental health.
Even though there are many connections between hearing loss and mental/emotional health issues, you don’t have to be suffering from these issues in your life. The good news is that help is available, and there are many modern solutions to improve your hearing so that you can live a normal life.
Many patients find that using hearing aids and other hearing solutions can be beneficial to improve their happiness and restore emotional well-being.
The most important thing that you can do to improve your overall quality of life is to meet with a hearing specialist for a diagnosis and to explore your options.
Do you suspect that you or a loved one is suffering from untreated hearing loss? Then, it’s time to meet with our expert team for a hearing test. We are here to help, offering modern technologies and the best treatment solutions.
Learn more about your options by contacting our team at Fairfax Hearing Center. We’ll schedule a consultation and provide more information.
