Resistance to hearing loss treatment can lead to depression

Hearing loss can have a disruptive effect on daily life for the millions who experience it. However, according to a new study, many adults are negatively affecting their quality of life by not seeking treatment for the condition.
The findings of the study were presented at the 2015 American Psychological Association Convention, held this year in Toronto, Canada.
"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," reports David Myers, a psychology professor at Hope College in Michigan who has hearing loss.  According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), around 15per cent of American adults - around 37.5 million people - report some trouble with their hearing.  Hearing aids work by amplifying certain sounds to the wearer. Although hearing aids are well known to improve the hearing and communication skills of many people with hearing loss, a large number of people who would benefit from the devices do not use them.
The NIDCD estimate that among adults aged 70 and over who would benefit from using a hearing aid, less than 1 in 3 have ever used one (30 per cent), and only 16 per cent of adults aged 20-69 who would benefit have tried using one.
Like many people with hearing loss, Myers was resistant to getting treatment for his condition. Although his hearing loss began when he was a teenager, it was not until he reached his 40s that he first got a hearing aid.
The National Center for Health Statistics state that people wait for an average of 6 years from the first signs of hearing loss before receiving treatment for it. Myers says that this delay can be due to denial, vanity and a lack of awareness of how much their hearing is impaired.  Hearing aid users were also more likely to take part in regular social activities. This social isolation among people with hearing loss could increase the risk of dementia, Myers suggests, citing an earlier study published in the Archives of Neurology, that indicated hearing loss in itself could be a risk factor for the condition.
"Anger, frustration, depression and anxiety are all common among people who find themselves hard of hearing," Myers explains. "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."
    MNT

Resistance to hearing loss treatment can lead to depression

Hearing loss can have a disruptive effect on daily life for the millions who experience it. However, according to a new study, many adults are negatively affecting their quality of life by not seeking treatment for the condition. The findings of the study were presented at the 2015 American Psychological Association Convention, held this year in Toronto, Canada. 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, reports David Myers, a psychology professor at Hope College in Michigan who has hearing loss. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), around 15per cent of American adults - around 37.5 million people - report some trouble with their hearing. Hearing aids work by amplifying certain sounds to the wearer. Although hearing aids are well known to improve the hearing and communication skills of many people with hearing loss, a large number of people who would benefit from the devices do not use them. The NIDCD estimate that among adults aged 70 and over who would benefit from using a hearing aid, less than 1 in 3 have ever used one (30 per cent), and only 16 per cent of adults aged 20-69 who would benefit have tried using one. Like many people with hearing loss, Myers was resistant to getting treatment for his condition. Although his hearing loss began when he was a teenager, it was not until he reached his 40s that he first got a hearing aid. The National Center for Health Statistics state that people wait for an average of 6 years from the first signs of hearing loss before receiving treatment for it. Myers says that this delay can be due to denial, vanity and a lack of awareness of how much their hearing is impaired. Hearing aid users were also more likely to take part in regular social activities. This social isolation among people with hearing loss could increase the risk of dementia, Myers suggests, citing an earlier study published in the Archives of Neurology, that indicated hearing loss in itself could be a risk factor for the condition. Anger, frustration, depression and anxiety are all common among people who find themselves hard of hearing, Myers explains. 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. MNT