Depressed by deafness

Hard of hearing suffer increasingly from depression

09/24/2012

Hearing loss has a significant impact on the human psyche and may cause depression. „Hearing has a tremendous significance for the social relationships of the human being. Hearing loss can lead to loneliness, depression, even dementia“, reports the German Professional Association of Otolaryngologists.

If the hearing is impaired in its function, those affected often have considerable difficulties in interpersonal communication. If only half of what is said is understood and constantly inquired, the psyche suffers. In addition, misunderstandings resulting from deafness often burden interpersonal relationships. The result is an increased risk of depression in deafness, reports the German Association of Otolaryngologists. If you have the impression that you are hearing worse, you should urgently visit an ENT doctor's office and have an earmicroscopy and a hearing test carried out, advise the experts.

Hearing falls and degenerative processes can lead to deafness
The President of the German Professional Association of Otolaryngologists, Dr. med. Dirk Heinrich, stated in a recent press release that „Deafness is not an independent disease, but always a symptom of a disease behind it“ is. Possible causes could be, for example, tumors on the auditory nerve, diseases of the middle ear and ear canal as well as the well-known noise-induced deafness. Furthermore, according to the expert „Hearing falls and degenerative processes lead to deafness.“ The diseases are accompanied by the declining hearing function, for example, symptoms such as tinnitus or earache. For the psyche, the declining hearing sometimes has a far-reaching effect. Since those affected are often no longer able to sufficiently follow conversations, misunderstandings are more likely to arise. The interpersonal relationships suffer, the self-esteem is affected and often threaten the patient to lonely, so the message of the German Professional Association of Otolaryngologists. In the end, the worst is depression.

Early specialist medical examinations can provide information about the cause of the hearing loss and thus enable appropriate medical care. Therapies, such as the use of a hearing aid, not only improve the communication options of those affected, but also reduce the risk of mental health problems or even depression, reports the German Association of Otolaryngologists. Furthermore, the treatment of deafness also reduces the risk of accidents in everyday life. For people with hearing loss may not be aware of important warning sounds, such as honking in traffic, on time and are therefore at an increased risk of accidents. Anyone who already wears a hearing aid should, according to the experts, "regularly consult a specialist and have his hearing checked," as the hearing may be changed and the device must be readjusted. (Fp)

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